WHITE PLAINS – A former head basketball coach at Westchester Community College pled guilty on Tuesday to criminal possession of a forged instrument and conspiracy.
Tyrone Mushatt, 34, of the Bronx, admitted in Westchester County Court to possessing a forged transcript of a WCC basketball player and providing that forged document to St. John’s University in an effort to fraudulently establish the eligibility of the player to enroll and play basketball at St. John’s.
There was no evidence to suggest that St. John’s was aware of the fraudulent activity.
Mushatt also admitted that between June 1, 2013 and October 15, 2014, he conspired to possess and turn over 10 forged Westchester Community College transcripts of six basketball players to four colleges and universities in order to facilitate the transfer of those players to four-year colleges and universities.
Those institutions include St. John’s University, Quinnipiac University, Concordia College and Florida A&M University. There was no evidence to suggest that those schools were aware of the fraudulent nature of the transcripts in question.
The fraud came to light when the state Office of the Inspector General, the State University of New York Chancellor’s Office and the National Junior College Athletic Association all received information that the scheme was occurring. The US Department of Education also assisted in the investigation.
Mushatt faces up to a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison, but was promised a probationary sentence if he avoids committing any further criminal activity.
