Former Westchester Community College Basketball Coach Accused of Forging Transcripts

WHITE PLAINS, NY — A former Westchester Community College men’s basketball coach was indicted Thursday for forging college transcripts.

Acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty announced that Tyrone Mushatt, 43, of Boller Avenue in the Bronx, was arraigned on the following charges:

• 17 counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, felonies.
• Fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor.

McCarty said, between May 11, 2012, and October 31, 2014, Mushatt submitted 17 forged Westchester Community College transcripts to seven colleges and universities, while he was the head men’s basketball coach for the college.

Police said he forged the transcripts to facilitate the transfer of eight WCC basketball players to four-year colleges and universities.

The institutions were Wilmington University, Farmingdale State College, the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University, St. John’s University, Quinnipiac University, Concordia College and Florida A&M University.

Police said Mushatt either mailed, faxed or hand delivered the forged student transcripts to representatives at those schools.

All the colleges and universities, including WCC, cooperated in the investigation.

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 U.S. Department of Education also assisted in the investigation.

Mushatt was arrested October 29, 2015 and pleaded not guilty to the accusations.

He remains released on his own recognizance, and his next court date is September 1, 2016.

If convicted, Mushatt could face a maximum of seven years in state prison.