Westchester County District Attorney

111 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
White Plains, NY 10601
Tel: (914) 995-3586
Fax: (914) 995-2116

Oct. 29, 2015 -- Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore and New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott announced that Tyrone Mushatt (DOB 11/07/72) of 3563 Boller Avenue Bronx, New York, was arraigned today on a Felony Complaint charging him with:

• nine counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, class "D" Felonies.

"As the complaint alleges, by altering basketball player's grades on official transcripts, this defendant, whose primary focus as a coach should have been on the best interests and education of the students, totally abdicated that responsibility. As a result, the academic integrity of the College as a whole and of other team members is brought into question, making the degree that others worked hard to achieve, look less valuable," said District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

Inspector General Leahy Scott said, "This defendant's years-long scheme was an abuse of his position that undermined the integrity of the college athletic system and violated the trust of the vast majority of students who count on hard work in the classroom and on the field of play to earn advancement. I thank District Attorney DiFiore for prosecuting the alleged criminal conduct our investigation revealed."

Between May 11, 2012 and Oct. 31, 2014, the defendant, a former Westchester Community College head men's basketball coach submitted nine forged Westchester Community College transcripts to seven colleges and universities in order to facilitate the transfer of eight WCC basketball players to four year colleges and universities.

• On May 11, 2012 the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, relating to a specific WCC student, was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Wilmington University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of that student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Wilmington University.
• On May 13, 2013, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Farmingdale State College in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of the student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Farmingdale State College.
• On Aug. 1, 2013 and August 31, 2013, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, relating to a specific WCC student was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of the student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University.
• On June 11, 2014, in the parking lot of the Crossroads Shopping Center located at 459 Tarrytown Rd., Greenburgh, NY, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College which was personally handed to an employee of St. John's University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of the student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at St. John's University.
• On May 29, 2014 and July 31, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was personally handed to an employee of Quinnipiac University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Quinnipiac University.
• On July 19, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Concordia College in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Concordia College.
• On July 29, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Florida A&M University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Florida A&M.
• On Aug. 4, 2014, the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was provided by the defendant to personnel employed by Florida A&M University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at Florida A&M.
• On Oct. 1, 2014 and Oct. 31, 2014 the defendant possessed a forged transcript of grades purporting to be issued by Westchester Community College, which was personally handed to an employee of St. John's University in an effort to fraudulently establish eligibility of said student to be enrolled and participate in collegiate athletics at St. John's University.

The defendant either mailed, faxed or hand delivered the forged student transcripts to the above representatives.

The fraud came to light when the New York State Office of the Inspector General, the State University of New York Chancellor's office and the National Junior College Athletic Association all received information that this scheme was occurring. The United States Department of Education also assisted in the investigation.

Westchester Community College fully cooperated from the outset with this investigation.

The defendant was arrested by investigators from the District Attorney's office this morning.

He was arraigned in the Town of Mount Pleasant Court and was released on his own recognizance. The case was adjourned to Dec. 10, 2015.

The defendant faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Conway, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ronco of the Public Integrity Bureau are prosecuting the case.

In compliance with Disciplinary Rule 7-107A of the Code of Professional Responsibility, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.