Happier Days: Felner takes in a mid-summer Bats' game

A federal grand jury has indicted former U of L Dean Robert Felner and his cohort from Illinois on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, fraud and tax evasion. Given the complexity of the case, the indictment came sooner than expected — just six months after University of Louisville police first tipped off the feds.

Calling the expeditious investigation “pretty phenominal,” U.S. Attorney David Huber said during a press conference announcing the indictments: “A case like this normally could go on two years, sometimes maybe longer.”

Between 2001 and 2008, Felner allegedly conspired with Thomas Schroeder, of Illinois, to embezzle more than $1.7 million from the University of Rhode Island, Felner’s former place of employment. After Felner took a job as dean of the school of education at U of L, the pair is accused of embezzling another $450,000 from a federal earmark grant.

In response to today’s indictment, U of L President James Ramsey said in a statement: “The Grand Jury’s indictment of former dean Robert Felner confirmed our initial concern of wrongdoing in the management of federal grant funds in the College of Education and Human Development. The University of Louisville brought this information to federal authorities last spring. We continue to work with the federal agencies on this investigation and look forward to its conclusion.”