A resident of the Stanworth apartment complex, which houses some faculty, was arrested Saturday following an investigation by Princeton Borough Police into alleged credit card fraud.
Randy Baadhio, 38, was charged with credit card fraud, forgery, identity theft and theft by deception.
The investigation began when A1 Limousine, which was conducting business with Baadhio and suspected him of fraudulent credit card use, alerted University Public Safety of their suspicions.
Baadhio acquired at least seven credit cards under different identities and may have used them to obtain between $2,000 and $4,000, Borough Police Lt. Dennis McManimon said.
According to the Borough Police's press release, the apartment complex in which Baadhio was living is subsidized by the University and reserved for faculty and staff.
University media relations manager Patty Allen confirmed that Baadhio had falsified information on his application for faculty housing and had been paying rent for an apartment on Stanworth Lane.
The University Housing Department declined to discuss its application review procedure, citing security concerns.
Public Safety investigator Charles Peters worked with the Mercer County prosecutor to ensure that the charges of defrauding the University had been filed, McManimon said.
Baadhio was brought up on similar charges in Massachusetts and California. According to an August 2002 San Francisco Chronicle article, he had already been sentenced to 18 months in prison for impersonating Harvard University and University of Colorado employees in order to open credit card accounts.
But Baadhio is a legitimate academic who focuses on such issues as "global gravitational anomalies" and "quantum topology," the Chronicle reported.
"As far as we can tell, he does have a Ph.D. in quantum physics, but this pays more," McManimon said, referring to Baadhio's recent activities.
The Secret Service and the State Department have opened subsequent investigations into additional charges of fraud and identity theft.
The State Department is currently looking into how Baadhio acquired a valid U.S. passport under an assumed identity.
The Secret Service field office in Trenton declined to comment about its investigation when contacted Thursday.
The residence which Baadhio rented was described by Allen as "a furnished transitional apartment, normally reserved for faculty and staff who will later move to a permanent residence."
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.