What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania
I have a question regarding employment documents, student-athlete employment, and University NCAA infractions investigations. I went to college with a good friend, who has a younger brother "Ted" that has just graduated from there as well. This friend of mine helped me with the startup of my company (tax and business issues), and I felt I owed him one. About 2 years ago, I hired his younger brother, who was a scholarship football player. I own a computer and network security firm and my normal hiring practice for network security and encryption is a standardized test, along with requiring Microsoft and network security certifications. However, for the "non-traditionally" educated people, I have a home-grown series of tests to determine their level of skill in hacking defense and reverse engineering. Ted had amazing skills at reverse engineering, so I hired him at a commiserate rate the same as people with MS and other certifications (45$ an hour). This is well above the pay rate for college students, and about a year ago, I was contacted by the University Athletics compliance staff regarding Ted's employment. They required me to fill out some form, and state how much I was paying him. They said that they had to make sure he was not being overpaid, which would be considered an "extra benefit" and make Ted ineligible and cost the University NCAA penalties. So I falsified the paperwork, and put down that he was making 12$ an hour.
At some point in the Summer, I was contacted by a private investigator hired by the University to investigate possible NCAA infractions. They had questions about Ted's employment, and discrepancies on the forms I had previously filled out. They asked to interview me, and to fill out more paperwork and "correct" any previous mistakes. I talked to Ted and his brother, who just asked me keep to the original paperwork filings. I lied to the "investigator" and incorrectly filled out paperwork. Now it turns out, that the investigator was part of a law firm the University hired, and they got hold of Ted's tax filings, which I *correctly* filled out for FICA ect. I received a formal letter from this law firm wanting a sworn deposition, and warning that if I lied again I could be charged with multiple crimes, including providing a "sworn court official" with fraudulent documents and criminal interference with operation of a licensed business.
I read up on investigations like this, and Universities tend to lose scholarships and Bowl bids. They have classified me as a "booster", and if I do not cooperate, they will "dissociate" me as a booster, and I will be unable to purchase athletic tickets.
"We will forewarn you that once dissociated, you will be unable to purchase any athletic tickets whatsoever, and third-party purchases of tickets followed by attendance at Athletic events can and will be considered criminal trespassing."
Is any of this true? Is it a crime to falsify documents used for NCAA compliance, and then give false documents to a law firm who is working on behalf a Compliance department? I did NOT falsify any government tax documents, rather I just altered information to keep below the radar and not raise red flags for Ted's eligibility. I am under the impression that this was never a Law Enforcement matter, or I never legally swore to the validity of the information, that it was not a crime.
I have a question regarding employment documents, student-athlete employment, and University NCAA infractions investigations. I went to college with a good friend, who has a younger brother "Ted" that has just graduated from there as well. This friend of mine helped me with the startup of my company (tax and business issues), and I felt I owed him one. About 2 years ago, I hired his younger brother, who was a scholarship football player. I own a computer and network security firm and my normal hiring practice for network security and encryption is a standardized test, along with requiring Microsoft and network security certifications. However, for the "non-traditionally" educated people, I have a home-grown series of tests to determine their level of skill in hacking defense and reverse engineering. Ted had amazing skills at reverse engineering, so I hired him at a commiserate rate the same as people with MS and other certifications (45$ an hour). This is well above the pay rate for college students, and about a year ago, I was contacted by the University Athletics compliance staff regarding Ted's employment. They required me to fill out some form, and state how much I was paying him. They said that they had to make sure he was not being overpaid, which would be considered an "extra benefit" and make Ted ineligible and cost the University NCAA penalties. So I falsified the paperwork, and put down that he was making 12$ an hour.
At some point in the Summer, I was contacted by a private investigator hired by the University to investigate possible NCAA infractions. They had questions about Ted's employment, and discrepancies on the forms I had previously filled out. They asked to interview me, and to fill out more paperwork and "correct" any previous mistakes. I talked to Ted and his brother, who just asked me keep to the original paperwork filings. I lied to the "investigator" and incorrectly filled out paperwork. Now it turns out, that the investigator was part of a law firm the University hired, and they got hold of Ted's tax filings, which I *correctly* filled out for FICA ect. I received a formal letter from this law firm wanting a sworn deposition, and warning that if I lied again I could be charged with multiple crimes, including providing a "sworn court official" with fraudulent documents and criminal interference with operation of a licensed business.
I read up on investigations like this, and Universities tend to lose scholarships and Bowl bids. They have classified me as a "booster", and if I do not cooperate, they will "dissociate" me as a booster, and I will be unable to purchase athletic tickets.
"We will forewarn you that once dissociated, you will be unable to purchase any athletic tickets whatsoever, and third-party purchases of tickets followed by attendance at Athletic events can and will be considered criminal trespassing."
Is any of this true? Is it a crime to falsify documents used for NCAA compliance, and then give false documents to a law firm who is working on behalf a Compliance department? I did NOT falsify any government tax documents, rather I just altered information to keep below the radar and not raise red flags for Ted's eligibility. I am under the impression that this was never a Law Enforcement matter, or I never legally swore to the validity of the information, that it was not a crime.
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