Former TSU Official Sentenced to 8 Years Over Scandals
A former assistant dean of admissions at Texas Southern University will be heading to prison for the better half of a decade, according to reports.
Edward Wayne Rene was sentenced to eight years in prison, after pleading guilty on Wednesday, for “theft of a public servant and sexual performance by a minor.” Rene has also been ordered to pay TSU $177,000 in restitution, according to the FBI Houston office. He is now a convicted felon.
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Rene, overseeing the Thurgood Marshall School of Law’s admissions, stole from the university by awarding two students double scholarships, then making those students return the extra money, which he kept. He was first charged with theft in 2020, which also led to the school buying out university President Austin Lane’s salary.
For Lane’s part, he was fired for failing to notify the school’s board of the fraudulent activities by Rene, once concern over the qualifications of admitted students began coming to light. According to a later settlement, the board found no wrongdoing by Lane.
TSU released a statement Thursday after Rene’s sentence was announced:
“The University is pleased with the outcome of this case and commends the efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system in ensuring justice was served,” TSU said in a statement. “This was the misconduct of one individual and does not reflect the values, culture, or commitment of the dedicated faculty, staff, and leadership at [TSU]. We remain steadfast in our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of ethics and accountability.”
“This case serves as a reminder of TSU’s firm commitment to transparency and to being responsible stewards of the public trust and resources provided by the State of Texas,” the statement continues. “Any employee who engages in financial impropriety will face appropriate consequences through legal and institutional processes. [TSU] remains focused on its mission of excellence in education, public service, and integrity in all operations.”
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In 2023, he was hit with additional charges from an unrelated case. In June of 2018, he had a minor perform sexual acts on him, which included photo evidence of said acts. While the minor is unrelated to TSU, the acts occurred during Rene’s time at the school, according to Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Former TSU Official Sentenced to 8 Years Over Scandals was originally published on myhoustonmajic.com
