County DA: Former College Coach Accused of Grade Fixing

Bronx resident Tyrone Mushatt, 42, former head coach of the men’s basketball team at Westchester Community College, has been charged in connection with a grade fixing scheme involving players, announced Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore and NYS Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott this week.

Mushatt was arraigned Thursday on a Felony Complaint charging him with:

• Nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, class ”D” Felonies.

He is accused of falsifying the grades of some of his players to help them get into several NCAA institutions, such as St. John’s, C.W. Post, Florida A&M University and Bronxville’s Concordia College.

“As the complaint alleges, by altering basketball player’s grades on official transcripts, this defendant, whose primary focus as a coach should have been on the best interests and education of the students, totally abdicated that responsibility,” said DiFiore in a statement. “As a result, the academic integrity of the College as a whole and of other team members is brought into question, making the degree that others worked hard to achieve, look less valuable.”

Westchester Community College fully cooperated from the outset with this investigation, according to DiFiore and Leahy Scott. The allege scheme was investigated by the New York State Office of the Inspector General, the State University of New York Chancellor’s office and the National Junior College Athletic Association. Additionally, the United States Department of Education also assisted in the probe.

“This defendant’s years-long scheme was an abuse of his position that undermined the integrity of the college athletic system and violated the trust of the vast majority of students who count on hard work in the classroom and on the field of play to earn advancement,” added Leahy Scott. “I thank District Attorney DiFiore for prosecuting the alleged criminal conduct our investigation revealed.”

According to DiFiore, between May 11, 2012, and October 31, 2014, Mushatt “submitted nine forged Westchester Community College transcripts to seven colleges and universities in order to facilitate the transfer of eight WCC basketball players to four year colleges and universities.”

Details of the allegations from DiFiore and Leahy Scott:

• On May 11th, 2012 the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, relating to a specific WCC student, was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Wilmington University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of that student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Wilmington University.

• On May 13, 2013, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Farmingdale State College in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of the student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Farmingdale State College.

• On August 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, relating to a specific WCC student was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of the student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.

• On June 11, 2014, in the parking lot of the Crossroads Shopping Center located at 459 Tarrytown Road, Greenburgh, New York, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College which was personally handed to an employee of St. John’s University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of the student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at St. John’s University.

• On May 29, 2014 and July 31, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was personally handed to an employee of Quinnipiac University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Quinnipiac University.

• On July 19, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Concordia College in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Concordia College.

• On July 29, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Florida A&M University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Florida A&M.

• On August 4, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Florida A&M University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Florida A&M.

• On October 1, 2014 and October 31, 2014 the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was personally handed to an employee of St. John’s University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at St. John’s University.

Mushatt “either mailed, faxed or hand delivered the forged student transcripts” to representatives of the above mentioned schools, according to DiFiore.

He was arraigned in the Town of Mount Pleasant Court on Thursday and was released on his own recognizance. The case was adjourned to Dec. 10, 2015.

If convicted, Mushatt faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ronco of the Public Integrity Bureau are prosecuting the case.

Photo: Tyrone Mushatt. Photo credit: Westchester County District Attorney’s office