Admissions worker taken into custody for stealing confidential information

A longtime employee in the admissions department at CSUS was arrested on 13 counts of Grand Theft for stealing student social security numbers and using them to purchase goods and services.

George Beatty, 52, was arrested Aug. 18 by Sacramento Police on13 counts of grand theft for allegedly stealing $70,000 worth of goods and utilities that were fraudulently purchased by the suspect.

Campus Police first began investigating Beatty after receiving a tip from a person who had applied for admission to CSUS and suspected that personal information such as his social security number and birth date had been stolen and used to apply for credit cards by someone at CSUS.

After finding evidence of tampering with admissions records, campus police turned the case over to Sacramento Police, who have linked Beatty to 13 cases dating back to 1992.

Beatty acquired the social security numbers and other personal information from applications for admission to CSUS. He used the confidential information given in the applications to purchase goods and services such as cable television and utilities.

Larry Glasmire, Director of Admissions and Records, said that his office requires employees who have access to personal student information to sign a one-page confidentiality agreement, but that there is "very little we can do to detect (fraud) or prevent it."

The Department of Admissions and Records is responsible for handling all student data including social security numbers and grades. Glasmire said that handling security issues is an "essential element of any training in our office" but that there was little he could do regarding the oversight of employees who handle confidential student information.

"I wish there was something we could do to prevent this, but it comes down to personal integrity," said Glasmire.

Glasmire said supervisors do not routinely audit employees' computer files, and he was unsure if he was legally able to do so.

Beatty worked for CSUS for 23 years and obtained a security clearance ten years ago when he began working in Admissions and Records.

Glasmire's department had no knowledge of Beatty's illegal activities until Sacramento Police arrested him on campus on Aug. 17.

"We were all very surprised," said Glasmire. "We have done everything we can do to ensure that employees understand confidentiality." CSUS Spokeswoman Ann Reed said that Beatty resigned from his job shortly after the arrest.

Beatty was scheduled to be arraigned in court on Sept 1 on 13 counts of grand theft.

Sacramento Police Spokesperson Michele Quattrin said that the investigation was "ongoing" and that additional charges may be forthcoming.

Deputy District Attorney Bret Morgan is handling the case and said that, if convicted, Beatty faces time in state prison for the grand theft charges.

All of the known victims do not attend CSUS and most live in Southern California.

CSUS ex-worker arraignment delayed

Former CSUS employee George Beatty appeared in Sacramento County Court on Tuesday, Sept. 1 to be arraigned on 13 counts of grand theft. The charges stemmed from an investigation involving stolen student social security numbers.

Due to the ongoing investigation by police, Deputy District Attorney Brett Morgan asked for and received a continuance on the case.

"There is the possibility that more charges against Beatty will be filed," Morgan said Wednesday. "The detective who is handling the case is still sorting through all of the facts" to ensure a thorough and fair investigation, he said.

The next arraignment for Beatty, a CSUS employee for 23 years, will be on September 15 at 8 a.m. at the Sacramento County Courthouse located at 9th and I Streets.

Campus Police first began investigating Beatty after receiving a tip from a person who had applied for admission to CSUS and suspected that personal information from his application had been stolen.

Beatty, who was arrested on Aug. 17, has since resigned from his job at the Admissions and Records Office at CSUS.

Larry Glasmire, Director of Admissions and Records, had no knowledge of any wrongdoing by Beatty and first learned of the situation when police arrested Beatty in August at the Admissions office.

None of the victims are students at CSUS.

Beatty was assigned a public defender by the court. Morgan said that he had several choices available for the upcoming arraignment: He could ask for a preliminary hearing, which is like a pre-trial during which the facts of the case are examined to determine whether there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. Other options for Beatty include asking for a continuance or pleading no contest.

Currently, there are no other suspects named in the case.