SAN ANTONIO – A human assets supervisor with Texas A&M College-San Antonio resigned this spring after college officers started trying into her probably fraudulent use of a college bank card, inner data obtained by KSAT Investigates present.
Christina Gomez, 44, resigned, efficient instantly, on March 31, weeks after A&M-San Antonio management positioned her on administrative go away.
A subsequent assessment by the Texas A&M College System’s chief auditor decided Gomez made 211 probably fraudulent purchases with the cardboard between October 2023 and February 2025.
In all, officers recognized questionable purchases by Gomez totaling $70,135:
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$63,185 makes up the 211 probably fraudulent prices
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$6,950 price of purchases with out receipts or back-up documentation
The $6,950 charged with out receipts was nonetheless being analyzed on the time the assessment was accomplished, data present.
“It’s a considerable quantity for a college,” stated Willie Ng, a former San Antonio Police Division white collar crimes detective.
Ng is just not related to investigating this case.
“It’s shocking. Often, we discover this problem with non-public entities, non-public firms, the place they don’t have all of the checks and balances and are sort of simply winging it as they go and creating insurance policies as issues like this occur,” Ng stated. “A big college, resembling this one right here, I’m stunned that they didn’t have higher checks and balances.”
Data: Gomez used digital signature, coworker’s login credentials to approve her personal expense studies
The bank card prices flagged by the college system had been made at H-E-B shops in San Antonio and Faculty Station in addition to a number of Walmart areas in San Antonio, Helotes, Faculty Station and Corpus Christi, data present.
No cost exceeded $500.89, however Gomez’s card was used at Walmart 3 times in a single day in July 2024, in line with data.
Gomez, who didn’t reply to a request for remark from KSAT left at her final listed handle, admitted that non-public purchases had been included in her expense studies, the auditor’s assessment states.
As a substitute of handing over receipts for what she bought, Gomez used the digital signature of her coworker on misplaced receipt types with out that particular person’s data, after which used a coworker’s login credentials to approve her personal expense studies, data present.
The assessment decided Gomez violated insurance policies protecting the usage of system assets, data safety, IT requirements and procurement card tips.
Two different A&M-San Antonio workers had been named within the auditor’s assessment, however the college redacted their names earlier than the data had been launched to KSAT.
One of many workers was discovered to have violated college guidelines on data safety and IT requirements. It’s unclear if that worker confronted any self-discipline from the college.
TAMU-SA Affiliate Vice President and Chief Human Sources Officer Martha Gonzalez didn’t reply to a number of emails from KSAT Investigates concerning the case.
A TAMU-SA spokesperson advised KSAT by way of e mail:
“We maintain all members of our group to the best requirements of integrity,” the varsity spokesperson wrote. “When considerations are raised about any potential violations, we take them critically and act promptly in accordance with our insurance policies and procedures. Our dedication stays firmly centered on defending the pursuits of our college students and upholding the values of our establishment.”
A&M-San Antonio President Dr. Salvador Hector Ochoa knowledgeable the chief auditor in early Could that the varsity had recognized 9 corrective actions to take to forestall this from taking place once more.
The objects embody making Gomez ineligible to be rehired throughout the Texas A&M College System and introducing extra coaching for account managers.
Ng says a possible felony case needs to be handed off to a bigger company
The investigation of Gomez was forwarded by college officers to its police division on March 31, the identical day Gomez resigned.
Gomez, who has not been criminally charged, is below investigation for forgery and bank card abuse, an incident report obtained by KSAT Investigates exhibits.
The investigation is pending, in line with the newest replace supplied by A&M-San Antonio officers.
“When you begin peeling again the onion and also you begin doing an investigation and different receipts or paperwork and paperwork that had been submitted, then we begin to discover there was extra to it than what’s current at first,” stated Ng.
Ng advised KSAT the case, on account of its complexity, needs to be handed off by A&M-San Antonio police to a bigger legislation enforcement company, resembling SAPD or the Bexar County Sheriff’s Workplace. Ng additionally stated it will be higher suited if it had been investigated as a potential misappropriation of funds.
“You don’t need the notion of wanting it to go south to save lots of face since you didn’t have the right procedures in place,” Ng stated.
An A&M-San Antonio police supervisor who emerged from the division’s transportable constructing declined to debate the case with KSAT and as an alternative referred inquiries concerning the progress of the investigation to the college’s communications division.
Officers with SAPD and BCSO advised KSAT that they had no document of the investigation of their case administration system.
Learn extra reporting on the KSAT Investigates page.
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