UNR probed for alleged criminal activities

RENO -- The University of Nevada, Reno is under investigation by the Nevada Attorney General's office for allegations of criminal activity made by several plaintiffs in lawsuits against the school.

The probe began after the plaintiffs met with Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto in April.

Among those at the meeting were Rich Schweickert, a UNR geology professor, Hussein S. Hussein, a former UNR animal science professor and Lane Grow, a UNR police sergeant.

They left Masto with a 94-page summary of allegations and thousands of pages of exhibits, Schweickert said.

The allegations include fraud involving university grants and farm property, embezzlement, forgery, obstruction of justice and perjury.

UNR officials said the investigation was not a concern.

"It is appropriate the Attorney General's office look into the allegations brought by the plaintiffs," UNR spokeswoman Jane Tors said.

"However, the university has no indication that criminal activity is being investigated. It should be noted that the allegations have not been disclosed to the university," she added.

However, the plaintiffs said all the allegations were brought to university officials' attention last year and in 2006.

They said officials either took no action or attempted to cover up the alleged wrongdoing.

The attorney general's office declined to comment.

But Wayne Fazzino, an investigator for the office, has been on campus gathering documents and talking to people for more than a month, Hussein and Schweickert said.