Former KSU Dean of Education College Receives Felony Conviction

On July 19, 2012, a Cobb County jury convicted former Kennesaw State University (KSU) Bagwell College of Education Dean Dr. Yiping Wan of two counts False Statements and Writings (O.C.G.A § 16-10-20). Wan stood trial for misrepresenting the cost of airlines tickets to KSU between August 2005 and April 2006. He was sentenced by Cobb Superior Court Judge Stephen Schuster to five years probation under the First Offender Act and ordered to pay $3930.00 in restitution and a $2000.00 fine. 

Wan was indicted on April 17, 2008, on two counts of False Statements and Writings and three counts of Theft by Taking (O.C.G.A § 16-8-2). Specifically, the charges alleged that Wan made an arrangement with a travel agent purchasing airline tickets for three university-related trips to China to pay more for the tickets than they actually cost. The travel agent reimbursed him the difference, and then Wan submitted reimbursement requests reflecting the greater amount for the ticket to KSU. By overstating the cost of the tickets and being reimbursed for that amount, Wan received $3,930 more than he was entitled to from KSU. He resigned from KSU in 2007.

Assistant Attorney General Laura Pfister prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. The case was investigated by Special Agent Wesley Horne of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of John Fuchko, Chief Audit Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for the Board of Regents, and senior leadership at KSU.