NEW YORK – A community college instructor was arrested on Dec. 6 and charged with grand larceny, falsifying business records, computer tampering and forgery after a six-month investigation revealed that student grades at LaGuardia Community College’s registrar’s office did not match the grades posted by college instructors.
Elvin Escano, a 46-year-old computer science instructor and lab technician, allegedly entered the registrar’s computer system to change students’ transcripts, receiving in compensation cash and alcohol from students. He is being held at $100,000 bail.
According to authorities, Escano developed a network of students to advertise his illegal services, which were carried out over a 29-month period.
Prosecutors also say that Escano instructed a student to lie before a grand jury about Escano’s involvement.
Escano denies all the charges. If convicted, he could serve up to seven years in prison.
