by Melissa Bykofsky
Andrique Baron, 36, was arrested in 2007, indicted by the Grand Jury the following July on charges of computer trespassing to commit a felony and criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.
At his trial on June 9 before Manhattan Judge Thomas Farber, Baron was found guilty on all 36 counts he was accused.
The counts against him, according to public indictment documents from Manhattan, include criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree, commercial bribe receiving in the first degree, falsifying business records in the first degree and computer tampering in the third degree.
Baron was accused by multiple people at the university of breaking into Touro College�s computer system and helping students change grades, falsify records, and create fake or inflated academic information in exchange for money. He was apparently caught when someone at the school went to officials at Touro, who turned the case over to the authorities.
Last year Baron turned down a deal that could have landed him five years in jail. While Baron was not the only employee or students busted in the sting, he was the only to plead �not guilty.�
�The sentencing date is July 13 and prosecution is recommending between five and 16 years in prison with bail set at $150,000,� said Alicia Maxey Green, director of communications for the Manhattan District Attorney.
According to the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Baron was first arrested in July 2007 after tampering with a Touro College computer without authorization.
Baron and former Touro College computer center director, Michael Cherner were among ten people convicted in a scheme to create or alter student transcripts for money. Four of those convicted were officials of Touro college, and six were students and non-students involved in the fraud.
Baron�s attorney did not return phone calls by press time.
As a part of the 36 counts against him, Baron was convicted of creating and issuing fake degrees to multiple New York City teachers who were never students at the college, but looking to get their accreditation the easy way.
�Touro is pleased with the jury�s findings in the matter of Andrique Baron,� said the school in a public statement. �It is important to remember that Touro discovered the wrongdoing in this matter, reported it to law enforcement, cooperated fully with the Manhattan District Attorney�s Office in the investigation and prosecution of the resulting cases and was commended for its efforts. ... Touro has put procedures in place to restore and maintain the integrity of its student records.�
The college would not comment further. Baron is awaiting sentencing.
