LANGSTON--The longtime band director at Langston University is being investigated for misappropriation of funds, the Black Chronicle has learned.Albert L. Jackson, who has been at the school for about 17 years, is under investigation “for taking cash from scholarships he awarded to ineligible students,” a statement from the university said.
He has been placed on administrative leave with pay, the statement said, as investigations are conducted by the university’s police department and the Logan County District Attorney’s Office.
The university statement said officials had received a tip in mid-December that Mr. Jackson was misappropriating band funds.
Reports have been circulating on the campus the last several weeks alleging that the band director was operating a scheme by which he would convince a band student scheduled to receive a $1,000 scholarship, for example, to accept $500 instead so that he could give the remaining $500 to another student.
With the reports, the other student never got the $500 because that sum was allegedly pocketed by the band director.
The Langston statement said the school is uncertain when the investigations will be completed.
A spokesman for the Logan County District Attorney confirmed yesterday that an investigation of the band director is underway.
Said to have come to Langston from Grambling, La., Mr. Jackson has been credited with greatly rejuvenated the caliber of the marching band at LU.
The report of the investigations comes just as another former Langston University employee is about to face an arraignment for allegedly forging signatures on numerous checks while she worked as an administrative assistant at the school.
Karen M. Matthews was charged last year, and a 27-count indictment was issued by Logan County District Court.
Subsequently, she was arrested and was jailed, and remained jailed until the court reduced her bail last August.
A preliminary hearing was set for last Oct. 22, but Miss Matthews waived her rights to a preliminary hearing.
She now faces a Friday, Feb. 5, arraignment hearing.
An arraignment is a formal reading of the charges against the accused, at which a defendant makes a plea of guilty or not guilty.
