A former student employee at Palm Beach State College is accused of pocketing nearly $21,000 in wages by clocking in for work he never performed.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the issue came to light when college employees from the Payroll, Accounting, Financial Aid, and Human Resources departments noticed discrepancies in the employment records of a former student who worked in the Humanities Department.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the former student, identified as Jevon Scott, was paid from May 2022 through April 2024, despite graduating in May 2022.
After his graduation, Scott, now 30, reportedly continued to clock in using a mobile application provided by the school.
An audit revealed that Scott was not present on campus during the times he claimed to be working, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Palm Beach State College’s main campus is in Lake Worth Beach, but there are also campuses in Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens.
The Sheriff’s Office said that a Student Employee Coordinator in the Financial Aid department confirmed that Scott had qualified for a student position based on federal aid. Although he graduated, he re-enrolled at the college for a different program, which maintained his eligibility for student work. However, Scott had not been visible in the Humanities Department since his graduation.
When the coordinator contacted Scott, he allegedly stated he was working under another employee, who later denied supervising Scott.
Scott’s official employment was terminated in April 2024 to prevent further payments, the report notes.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the total amount lost is estimated at $20,753.75. Scott faces a charge of defrauding to obtain property value of $20,000-$50,000.
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