Special Investigations Unit Report Regarding Theft By A Public Servant at Austin Community College Page: 1 of 1

                                
Robert E. Johnson Building
tate                                                                             1501 North Congress Avenue
Suite 4.224
A               ,                                                                          Austin, Texas 78701
O                SpcialInvetigaionsUnitFh: (512) 936-900
1CC Report Regarding Theft by a Public Servant
Office
at Austin Community College
Lawrence F. Alwin, CPA
July 12, 2000
Members of the Legislative Audit Committee:
An investigation by the State Auditor's Special Investigations Unit led to the conviction of Susanne
Burnett, a former Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Student Services at Austin Community
College's Riverside Campus. The investigation was referred to the Public Integrity Unit of the Travis
County District Attorney, which obtained indictments and prosecuted the case in court. On May 4,
2000, a Travis County District Court found Ms. Burnett guilty of the offenses of theft and tampering
with governmental records. On May 19, 2000, the 147th District Court sentenced her to a five-year term
and a one-year term of imprisonment and ordered full restitution as a condition of parole. She will serve
these sentences concurrently.
The convictions resulted from indictments by a Travis County     What is Austin Community College?
Grand Jury on March 2, 2000, charging Ms. Burnett with one Austin Community College is a junior
count of aggregated theft by a public servant and 29 counts of  college headquartered in Austin, Texas. In
tampering with governmental records, which are third degree   1998, it served over 25,000 students on 6
and state jail felonies, respectively.                        campuses located in Travis and Williamson
Counties. In 1999, 42 percent of its funding
was provided by the State.
Our investigation was prompted by allegations that Ms. Burnett  was Arstde by tle (tyti.
defrauded Austin Community College (ACC) by submitting an
invoice for services that were not provided and falsifying her time sheets. We determined that she:
*      Submitted an invoice to ACC for sign language services she did not provide
*      Submitted eighteen time sheets claiming overtime that she did not work
*      Submitted eight time sheets falsely claiming supplemental compensation
ACC's loss as a result of Ms. Burnett's conduct exceeded $11,000.
The Internal Audit Department of Austin Community College assisted the State Auditor's Special
Investigations Unit during this investigation. If you have any questions contact Frank H. Coleman, Jr.
or John M. Friou, Special Investigations Unit, at (512) 936-9500.
Sincerely,
The Special Investigations Unit investigates reports of illegal
activity involving state agencies and universities. The Unit
refers the results to prosecuting authorities.
To report suspected illegal activity, call 1-800-TX-AUDIT
(1-800-892-8348), send a fax to (512) 936-9400, visit
Lawrence F. Alwin, CPA                         http://www.sao.state.tx.us, or mail information to the State
State Auditor                                  Auditor's Office, Attn: SIU, P.O. Box 12067, Austin, Texas 78711.
cc:    Austin Community College
Dr. Richard Font6, President
Mr. James E. North, CPA, Director, Internal Audit
The Honorable Ronnie Earle, Travis County District Attorney
SAO Report No. 00-034
P.O. Box 12067 + Austin, Texas 78711-2067 + www.sao.state.tx.us + E-mail: auditor@sao.state.tx.us + Hotline (800) TX AUDIT