Columbia neuro employees steal 200K

Two employees in the pediatric neurological research department at Columbia University were arrested Wednesday (December 10) for scamming the institution out of more than $200,000. John Bzdil, the former manager of the pediatric neurosciences department at the university's Neurological Institute, and his wife, Heather Rinehart, will be presented with charges today (Dec 12) of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, a press officer from the US Attorney's office, Southern D

Written byAndrea Gawrylewski
| 2 min read

Register for free to listen to this article
Listen with Speechify
0:00
2:00
Share
Two employees in the pediatric neurological research department at Columbia University were arrested Wednesday (December 10) for scamming the institution out of more than $200,000. John Bzdil, the former manager of the pediatric neurosciences department at the university's Neurological Institute, and his wife, Heather Rinehart, will be presented with charges today (Dec 12) of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, a press officer from the US Attorney's office, Southern District of New York, where the couple is being prosecuted, told The Scientist. Rinehart formerly worked in the fashion marketing industry before working for Bzdil, according to the linkurl:Columbia Spectator;http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2008/12/11/couple-arrested-scheme-steal-hundreds-thousands-cu The Federal Bureau of Investigation had been investigating Bzdil and Rinehart, suspecting them of submitting bogus reimbursement forms to the university for spinal muscular atrophy studies that were never performed, totaling approximately $112,500, according to a linkurl:press release;http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/December08/bzdilrinehartarrestpr.pdf from the attorney's office. The prosecuting attorney, Julian Moore, was not available for comment, according to the press officer at the attorney's office. In addition, Columbia paid more than $84,000 for cosmetics and Amazon.com purchases made by the couple, in addition to more than $25,000 in charges from a luxury resort in Pennsylvania. An unnamed supervisor in the pediatric department refused to provide The Scientist with any more details about Bzdil, Rinehart, or their work at the university. An ISI search of "Bdzil J" pulls up one neuroscience paper, from 2000, and three veterinary papers based out of the Czech Republic from 2000-2007. Both Bzdil and Rinehart are charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. Bzdil is charged with an additional count of mail fraud and wire fraud. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine -- or twice the loss from the offense.
**__Related stories:__***linkurl:$Billions of fraud in HHS programs;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/54751/
[16 June 2008]*linkurl:Does fraud mean career death?;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/54921/
[7 August 2008]
Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Meet the Author

Share
Illustration of a developing fetus surrounded by a clear fluid with a subtle yellow tinge, representing amniotic fluid.
January 2026, Issue 1

What Is the Amniotic Fluid Composed of?

The liquid world of fetal development provides a rich source of nutrition and protection tailored to meet the needs of the growing fetus.

View this Issue
Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Skip the Wait for Protein Stability Data with Aunty

Unchained Labs
Graphic of three DNA helices in various colors

An Automated DNA-to-Data Framework for Production-Scale Sequencing

illumina
Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Exploring Cellular Organization with Spatial Proteomics

Abstract illustration of spheres with multiple layers, representing endoderm, ectoderm, and mesoderm derived organoids

Organoid Origins and How to Grow Them

Thermo Fisher Logo

Products

Brandtech Logo

BRANDTECH Scientific Introduces the Transferpette® pro Micropipette: A New Twist on Comfort and Control

Biotium Logo

Biotium Launches GlycoLiner™ Cell Surface Glycoprotein Labeling Kits for Rapid and Selective Cell Surface Imaging

Colorful abstract spiral dot pattern on a black background

Thermo Scientific X and S Series General Purpose Centrifuges

Thermo Fisher Logo
Abstract background with red and blue laser lights

VANTAstar Flexible microplate reader with simplified workflows

BMG LABTECH