Ex-WCC basketball coach charged over bogus transcripts

Tyrone Mushatt, the former head coach of the Westchester Community College men’s basketball team, was arraigned in Mount Pleasant Town Court Thursday on charges he used forged transcripts to help star players earn NCAA Division I scholarships.

The bogus transcripts were allegedly handed over, faxed or mailed by Mushatt to seven colleges, including St. John's University, Quinnipiac University and Florida A & M, which are Division I programs.

The arrest comes one year after the transcript fraud scandal was uncovered by The Journal News and prompted WCC to cancel its men's basketball season. The newspaper's reports sparked an investigation by the National Junior College Athletic Association into eligibility violations at the Valhalla school.

Mushatt, 42, was charged with nine felony counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument for allegedly altering transcripts between May 2012 and October of last year. He was arraigned by Mount Pleasant Town Justice Nicholas Maselli.

"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 interest and education of the students, totally abdicated that responsibility," Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore said in a statement.

Mushatt, a married father of three who lives in the Bronx, worked at WCC for the past 17 years. He took over as head coach in 2008.

His lawyer said the former coach has a "huge amount of support" from the school, his former players and former coaches. Attorney John Pappalardo also said in court that WCC's own internal investigation had determined that Mushatt wasn't involved in the scandal and "was unaware of it and had nothing to do with it."

"I think he spent his career helping kids," Pappalardo said after the hearing. "That's been the purpose of his life. He really had no reason or motivating factor to do what they're alleging."

But Assistant District Attorney Stephen Ronco told the judge that the case "goes against the integrity of the educational system at the collegiate level."

Mushatt allegedly submitted nine forged transcripts in an effort to help eight players transfer to four-year schools. Court papers allege he submitted transcripts to St. John's on behalf of two different players. The goal, investigators allege, was to fraudulently establish eligibility so the students could play basketball.

Among the former WCC stars ruled ineligible last year as a result of the scandal were Keith Thomas at St. John's, Gio McLean at Quinnipiac, and Jamell Walker and Damien Davis at Florida A & M. Walker was a former standout at Mount Vernon High School. WCC admitted to violating NJCAA rules by allowing Walker to play even though he was never certified for eligibility.

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Mushatt is also accused of passing along bogus transcripts to Wilmington University, Farmingdale State College, LIU Post and Concordia College.

The NJCAA has said it was waiting for the state Inspector General's Office to complete its criminal investigation before issuing sanctions. On Thursday, NJCAA spokesman Mark Krug, when asked about sanctions, said the association is still waiting for reports on internal findings by the SUNY system and state IG before taking any action. The NJCAA has told WCC to turn over the reports when they are available, he said.

State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott said in a statement that Mushatt abused his position 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."

Recently, WCC canceled its second consecutive men's basketball season and canceled the women's season. The college allowed Mushatt's contract to expire but had fired assistant coach Rich Fields early on in the case. The athletic director also retired.

Each count Mushatt faces is punishable by up to seven years in prison. He was released without bail.

It's unclear what the future holds for the WCC program under the college's new athletic director, Michael Belfiore.

WCC spokesman Patrick Hennessey said, "Westchester Community College affirms its commitment to the highest standards of academic integrity. We have fully cooperated with the investigation and express our appreciation to the District Attorney's Office for its thoroughness in the matter."

Twitter: @LeeHiggins