ST. LOUIS • The former business director of Washington University’s Division of Medical Education embezzled about $300,000 and used the money for international travel, jewelry and other personal purchases, a federal indictment claims.

Barbara “Basia” Skudrzyk, 37, of Rock Hill, was indicted in U.S. District Court Thursday on six counts of mail fraud. Her indictment was unsealed after her arrest Monday.

Prosecutors say Skudrzyk, also known as Barbara “Basia” Najarro, stole the money in a variety of ways from 2010 to July 31, 2018. They say she used Washington University funds to pay $12,000 for the painting of her home, $6,000 for flooring, $15,000 for construction work, $15,000 to her divorce lawyers, $4,000 to her movers and $4,000 to her cleaning company. She used more money for a friend’s airline ticket to Poland, and for her friend’s divorce attorney.

She bought about $140,000 worth of Visa gift cards at the Washington University bookstore using school money and then used the cards at restaurants and retailers.

She also used about $100,000 in school funds to pay for trips for herself and her family to cities in the U.S. and around the world including Munich, Bangkok, Guatemala City, Toronto and Krakow, Poland, prosecutors say.

Skudrzyk’s lawyer, Nicholas Williams, cautioned that the case is at the “early, one-sided stage,” and that he and Skudrzyk had not seen any of the evidence against her. Williams said she will plead not guilty next week.

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