Former Executive Director at Virgina-based University Sentenced for Fraud

ROANOKE, Va. - The former executive director of a Virginia-based private university, who stole more than $145,000 through a variety of schemes involving the doctoring false invoices and charging expenses to subordinates' credit accounts, was sentenced today to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison.

Billy Wayne Wooten, 68, of Macon, Georgia, pled guilty in November 2025 to one count of wire fraud.

According to court documents, beginning in 2018, Wooten served as an executive director for University Victim-1, a private university based in Virginia. In his role, Wooten was responsible for purchasing food and other charitable items for university students. To fulfill his role, Wooten was entrusted by University Victim-1 to bill invoices directly to the university and use a credit card that was paid for by the university.

Beginning in or around 2023, Wooten began taking advantage of University Victim-1 by purchasing large quantities of personal items and billing the invoices to University Victim-1. These items included sports memorabilia, groceries, and home improvements.

In one instance, Wooten acquired professional basketball trading cards for more than $17,000. He actively attempted to conceal his scheme by manipulating the invoice to make it appear as though it was for a local charitable cause and removed the contact information for the vendor before submitting it to University Victim-1 for reimbursement.

In addition, Wooten also used a University Victim-1 credit card to perpetuate his fraud. Once Wooten's credit card had reached its maximum spending limit, he directed his subordinates to make purchases for him that were purportedly on behalf of the university.

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Richmond Division made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaio is prosecuting the case.