Seven people have been charged with making fraudulent claims against the fund Michigan State University set up in the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal.
They have been charged with 22 felony counts for allegedly fraudulent claims that led to them receiving more than $527,000 from the Healing Assistance Fund.
University officials created the $10 million fund in 2017 to assist Nassar’s victims with the costs of counseling and mental health services. But after questions of possible fraudulent claims, the fund was shutdown.
A university spokeswoman says none of the seven individuals charged have come forward publicly as Nassar survivors. They are not listed in lawsuits filed against the university.
In August 2016, the Indianapolis Star published an exhaustive investigation into decades of allegations of sexual abuse against Dr. Larry Nassar. Eventually hundreds of women came forward to claim they had been abused by Nassar.
Nassar pleaded guilty to multiple counts and was sentenced to decades in prison.
In May, 2018, a $500 million settlement was reached between the university and survivors.
