78 Months: Former Texas Southern Professor Sentenced in $1.3M Student Aid Fraud Scheme

DOJ says Emmanuel Finnih, a 43-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria and former Texas Southern University professor, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his role in a student financial aid fraud scheme.

Prosecutors say Finnih filed more than 100 fraudulent financial aid applications over roughly five years — using stolen identities and fake "straw students." The applications sought more than $1.3 million in federal grants and loans, with about $921,000 actually paid out. Now he'll serve more than six years in federal prison for the scheme. Another reminder: the system bleeds taxpayer money, and the only thing standing between fraudsters and your wallet is enforcement that takes it seriously.