JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ohio — Three people have been indicted in an alleged scheme to steal tens of millions of dollars from the now-defunct Eastern Gateway Community College, including its former president, Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber revealed Thursday.
“Our indictment alleges a massive, multifaceted, white-collar financial operation that siphoned roughly $20 million of public and federal funds,” Faber said.
Faber, announcing the indictments at a Columbus news conference, said a Jefferson County grand jury handed down the indictments against Michael Perik, Nicole Rowe Colclasure and Michael Geoghegan. The state racketeering case alleges the three individuals conspired to divert Pell Grants, other federal financial aid and state subsidies away from the institution, contributing to its closure.
The charges are the result of a years-long investigation into EGCC. The Auditor’s Special Investigations Unit first announced it was seeking information on potential fraud, waste and abuse of public resources at the college back in January 2024. The SIU, the U.S. Secret Service, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other authorities raided EGCC’s main office in Steubenville that month.
Perik and Colclasure each face a dozen felony counts, including aggravated theft of $1.5 million or more, theft in office, telecommunications fraud, bribery, money laundering, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities, having an unlawful interest in a public contract and receiving stolen property…