A former Harvard student was indicted today for falsifying data in his uses to Harvard and for several scholarships.
Adam Wheeler, 23, was indicted on 20 counts of larceny, identity fraud, falsifying an endorsement or approval, and pretending to hold a degree. Wheeler was allegedly “untruthful” in his uses on the University and in scholarship applications, as outlined by a statement released nowadays by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone.
Being a senior in September 2009, Wheeler allegedly submitted fraudulent applications for the Harvard endorsement for both the United States Rhodes Scholarship plus the Fulbright Scholarship.
His application packet integrated fabricated recommendations from Harvard professors and also a university transcript detailing great grades around three years. Wheeler’s resume listed quite a few books he acquired co-authored, lectures he had offered, and courses he obtained taught, in accordance with authorities.
Wheeler’s transgressions arrived to light when a Harvard professor noticed similarities between Wheeler’s efforts and that of an additional professor through the application evaluate practice to the Rhodes Scholarship. The professor then compared the two pieces and voiced concerns that Wheeler plagiarized almost the whole piece.
Wheeler’s document was referred to University officials, who decided—upon discovering the falsified transcript—to open a complete examine of Wheeler’s academic document. Wheeler was invited to present his situation at a disciplinary hearing convened by University officials, but made the decision to await the decision at his house in Delaware instead of attend the meeting, as outlined by the press release.
University officials and Harvard police then discovered that Wheeler had never attended MIT or Phillips Academy in Andover, as his document claimed. Moreover, Wheeler’s SAT scores were not perfect, as conveyed inside a College Board document in his file.
Wheeler’s recommendations—allegedly signed by professors at Bowdoin University, which Wheeler attended prior to transferring to Harvard—were falsely attributed to individual who mentioned that they did not know Wheeler and experienced not written the letters, in accordance with the press release.
This is not the first time Wheeler has fallen under scrutiny for offenses in an academic setting. He was suspended from Bowdoin due to academic dishonesty.
“Not only was this defendant untruthful on his application on the College and his a number of scholarship software, he is also alleged to have stolen over $45,000 in grants, scholarship and financial aid money awarded to him on uses and submissions of documents that were dependant on lies and reproductions of other people’s tough perform,” Leone said inside the statement.
Wheeler was a member from the Class of 2010 who transferred to Harvard in the beginning of his sophomore year and became a resident of Kirkland House. An English concentrator, he received a Hoopes Prize from the spring of 2009 for a project that he received completed throughout his junior year.
“He was a great guy who didn’t talk about his academics or his life background much, but he arrived off as very smart. We just allowed him his privacy,” a source close to Wheeler, who did not wish to be named, mentioned in an interview Monday.
Wheeler did not obtain a Harvard degree, in accordance with Jeff Neal, spokesperson for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
The defendant is going to be arraigned tomorrow on the Middlesex Superior Court.