University Dean From Minnesota Allegedly Embezzled $400K To Fund Lavish Lifestyle
🚨 Scandal uncovered: Former University Dean’s $400K embezzlement scandal: lavish trips, fake companies, and a shocking airport arrest! 😱 #MinnesotaNews #MinnesotaCrime #MinneapolisLegalNews
ST. PAUL, MN – In a shocking turn of events, Laura Jean Fero, the former Dean of Nursing at St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Minnesota, is under fire for allegedly diverting over $400,000 of university funds to a fraudulent business operated by her boyfriend.
Fero, who held her position from June 2019 to August 2023, was also the administrator of the GHR Legacy Grant, aimed at preparing future healthcare professionals. However, her tenure has now been marred by accusations of embezzlement and fraud.
After Fero’s departure, St. Catherine’s officials tipped off St. Paul police, suspecting her of financial misconduct. An investigation revealed that Fero had authorized payments without proper approval, funneling money into JB & Associates LLC—a fake marketing company linked to her boyfriend, Juan Ramon Bruce. Bruce, 56, is already facing six counts of theft by swindle related to this case.
💰 Over $400,000 Embezzled: Couple’s Fraudulent Scheme Exposed
Court records allege that a staggering $412,644 was embezzled through this fraudulent scheme. Emails uncovered by investigators confirmed that Fero and Bruce were in a romantic relationship during most of her time at the university, and they were “explicitly working together to take money from the university.”
Further scrutiny revealed that work reports submitted to the university, purportedly from Bruce, were actually authored by Fero even after she had left her position.
✈️ Lavish Lifestyle and Arrest at the Airport
The scandal took another twist when Fero was arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on May 8, following her flight from Orlando to Minnesota. Despite living in Florida, court records show that she frequently traveled to various vacation spots including Atlanta, Cancun, Miami, Orlando, and Phoenix, using a university procurement card to cover expenses like hotels and rental cars.
🤔 Fero’s Questionable Defense and University’s Response
Fero, 54, claimed she didn’t believe her relationship with Bruce violated university conflict-of-interest policies, arguing that she thought the policy “only referred to married people.”
St. Catherine University’s spokesperson has declined to comment to local reporters on the case. Both Fero and Bruce face six counts of theft by swindle, with Fero’s next court appearance scheduled for June 7. Bruce made his initial court appearance on Monday.
Stay tuned to JackAndKitty.com for more updates on this developing story.
Reminder: All parties are considered innocent before proven guilty.
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Where did you find the court records, can we get a follow up?
Hi Lauren, thanks for reading and commenting. This was a widely reported story, so there may have been some additional follow-ups since it was published – although I just searched and am not seeing much. We’re definitely monitoring this for a follow-up, however 🙂 Thanks again! – Emma (Office Assistant)