FORMER EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD, ORDERED TO REPAY FUNDS A former university employee pleaded guilty to fraud and was sentenced June 29 to five years' probation. She must also pay full restitution. Dorothy Stokes, assistant administrator in the School of Public Health's Department of Maternal and Child Health, pleaded guilty to falsifying weekly payroll vouchers of part-time employees and stealing $42,000 in payroll checks. The fraud, which occurred between 1991 and 1993, was discovered by employees who noticed their W-2 earnings were inflated. The Office of Audits and Management Services, with the assistance of the Controller's Office, investigated and turned over evidence to the Baltimore city office of the Maryland State Prosecutor's Office, which completed the investigation. Subsequent audits on departments with large weekly payrolls indicated that some departments had weak internal controls and were not in compliance with the university's weekly payroll procedures. Departments are advised to divide among two or more individuals the duties of weekly payroll voucher approval and the receipt and distribution of payroll checks. They should also use supervisor-approved time cards to report employees' hours worked. Any violations or suspicious activity should be reported to the Office of Audits and Management Services at 516-6391 or the Office of the General Counsel, 516-8128.