LSU booster receives federal sentence for embezzlement
An LSU booster who pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud and money laundering charges in June has been sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.
U.S. District Court Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced John Paul Funes, the former president and CEO of Our Lady of the Lake (OLOL) Foundation in Baton Rouge to also pay $796,000 in restitution, ESPN reported.
He reportedly embezzled more than $500,000 from a hospital foundation and gave some of the stolen money to the parents of two former LSU football players. Federal prosecutors alleged Funes defrauded the foundation, which raised money for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, from 2012 to September 2018 by submitting bogus payment authorization vouchers and check requests, including checks to himself.
According its 2017 federal tax return, Our Lady of the Lake Foundation made a $15,000 grant to the Tiger Booster Clubs, which supports LSU athletics.
Sources told ESPN that “Individual C” is the father of former LSU offensive lineman Vadal Alexander, who was a four-year starter for the Tigers from 2012 to 2015. His father, James Alexander, is a self-employed entrepreneur in Atlanta.
Former LSU quarterback Rohan Davey confirmed to the Baton Rouge Business Report in June that his mother and sister are “Individual A” and “Individual B” in the bill of information. Davey played at LSU from 1998 to 2001 and was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft. The payments were allegedly made to his mother and sister after he left LSU.
In a previous statement, LSU senior associate athletics director Robert Munson said LSU “was made aware of specific allegations by OLOL officials in late 2018 and made the information immediately available to the NCAA. As this is an ongoing inquiry, LSU will have no further comment.”