Georgia Tech Suspends 4 Employees

Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents and police served search warrants early Monday on the offices and homes of four Georgia Institute of Technology employees, including a prominent professor.

Georgia Tech said all four employees have been suspended without pay and are suspected of misappropriating university funds.

An internal audit examination led to the suspension of Georgia Tech employees Joy Laskar and Stephane Pinel, school officials said Monday.

While reviewing cost overruns within the Georgia Electronic Design Center, Georgia Tech’s Department of Internal Auditing found evidence of possible malfeasance including the misappropriation of institute resources for the benefit of a company, Sayana Wireless, LLC, of which Laskar and Pinel are co-owners, school officials said. Both Laskar and Pinel, along with staff members Chris Evans and Amanda Scacchitti, have been suspended without pay until the investigation is completed.

"They turned that information over to the attorney general who requested us to investigate. From the Georgia Tech audit department's information, we were able to develop enough probable cause to obtain search warrants. Those search warrants are being executed today at Georgia Tech and other locations," said GBI spokesman John Bankhead.

“This was an isolated incident that was first identified through an internal audit review,” said James Fetig, associate vice president for Communications & Marketing. “The actions taken are an appropriate exercise of fiduciary responsibility to protect the interests of the Institute and GEDC’s research sponsors. Georgia Tech is cooperating fully with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation which is conducting the investigation.”

The total amount of the suspected malfeasance is under review.

GEDC’s research is specifically focused on designing integrated circuits – the chips that make computers, cell phones and many other electronic devices possible. Dr. Mark Allen, senior vice provost for research and innovation, has been named acting director of the center.

No charges have been filed.