A former accounting manager for the University of South Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing over $12.8 million that he used for rent payments, home renovations, chartered yachts, and payments to women on sex websites.
Ralph Puglisi, 60, was sentenced this week in the United States Middle District of Florida court by judge William F. Jung to spend 10 years in federal prison and pay full restitution of nearly $13 million.
Puglisi was employed as the accounting manager for the University of South Florida Medical Services Association. In his position, Puglisi oversaw the administration of the group’s credit cards.
According to court records, as early as June 2014, Puglisi began defrauding the association by using its credit cards to make unauthorized charges on his own behalf. Between June 2014 and November 2019, Puglisi made $12,860,744.07 in credit card charges ranging from paying his own rent, to extensive home renovations, travel, chartered yachts, and contributions to women affiliated with an interactive adult website.
Authorities say that Puglisi made fake journal entries in records in order to create the illusion that his charges were related to the operation of the business.