The News & Observer

August 22, 2008

Ex-administrator at NCCU arrested in wake of audit

DURHAM - A former N.C. Central University administrator accused of stealing money from the school was arrested Thursday by university police.

Franklin Bernard Carver, 57, of Skybrook Lane was charged with two counts of obtaining property by false pretense. He was released from the Durham County jail after signing a written promise to appear in court.

Carver is accused of obtaining $4,333 by signing fraudulent documents between April 2003 and February 2004, claiming that two people were doing scientific research when they weren't, according to an arrest warrant.

In February, a state audit claimed that Carver received more than $36,000 for improperly authorizing payments of federal grant funds to students and others for scientific work that was never done.

The checks were given to unidentified people to cash. Carver received some of that money in return to make credit card payments, the audit said. Those incidents are alleged to have occurred between 2003 and 2004.

Carver, who was assistant provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs at the time, also had a relationship with a student that he did not report -- which is against school policy -- and used a state credit card for personal purchases.

Carver was fired earlier this year.