Operation and History
In November 2005, Times Higher Education noted that prosecutors discovered the university formed part of an elaborate online scam masterminded by a former estate agent called "Dixie". Furthermore, "Dixie Ellen Randock, her husband, Steven Karl Randock Sr, and six alleged accomplices were indicted last month after a US Secret Service sting. Experts say the group was one of the biggest fish in the booming $1 billion (£584 million) a year phony degree and diploma-granting racket." The ring began operating in 1999 and during its time in operation sold more than $6 million worth of phony high school diplomas and undergraduate and graduate degrees to people in more than 130 countries. In addition to Saint Regis, the ring operated under the names of Ameritech University, Pan America University, James Monroe University, James Monroe High School, All Saints American University and New Manhattan University.
Dixie E. and Stephen K. Randock Sr. were indicted in October 2005 on charges of conspiring to commit fraud and laundering nearly $2 million dollars in diploma mill receipts from 2002 to 2005. Dixie E. Randock, Steven K. Randock, Heidi Kae Lorhan, and Blake Carlson entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in a U.S. District Court in Washington in March 2008.
In July 2008 Dixie Randock was sentenced to three years in prison. Her daughter was sentenced to one year and one day in prison, and Randock's husband was scheduled to be sentenced August 5, 2008. Others involved were to be sentenced later in 2008.
On 31 January 2007, the New York City Department of Investigation reported that several members of the New York City Fire Department had used "phony degrees" from St. Regis University in order to qualify for promotions. Fourteen firefighters received disciplinary fines as a result.
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