Penn State Hershey Medical Center Researcher Dr. Guohui Wan used his PSU Purchasing Card, meant for work-specific purposes, to make several unauthorized Amazon purchases.

Wan “had been hired to conduct medical research on behalf of the College of Medicine for cancer research,” according to court documents.

The Penn State Office of Internal Audit was notified of discrepancies within Wan’s financial records. Upon further investigation, they were able to find several fraudulent purchases from Oct. 2015 through Jan. 2016, according to court documents.

Wan tried to pass off the purchases as legitimate by providing written receipt documentation, reporting the objects purchased were “consistent with supplies needed to conduct his research,” according to court documents.

He also authenticated the documentation as being “true and correct” with his own signature. However, upon looking at vendor reports, these receipts were confirmed as both forged and altered, according to court documents.

Wan had used the University’s money to purchase a Porter-Cable Pancake Compressor, Amazon Fire TV Sticks, as well as several other wood-working related objects such as saws and flooring staples, all of which was purchased through Amazon.com, according to court documents.

In total, Wan spent $2,265.23 for these illegitimate purchases, according to court documents.

After being interviewed by investigators, Wan took full responsibility for the purchases and the falsification of the receipt documentation, according to court documents.

Wan resigned from his position within the research department on May 16, 2016. The follow-up investigation ended on Sept. 29, according to court documents.

Wan faced five different charges, including two second-degree felony charges for forgery and three third-degree felony charges for theft by deception, receiving stolen property and using an access device for an unauthorized reason, according to court documents.

The case is closed and his formal arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 28.