Rhode Island State Police arrest man who allegedly embezzled $3 million dollars from school for personal use

Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces the arrest of a Providence man for Embezzlement and Access to a Computer for Fraudulent Purposes.

On Tuesday, Detectives from the Financial Crimes Unit arrested 35-year-old Nathan Kaufman, of Providence, for Embezzlement and Access to a Computer for Fraudulent Purposes.

In August of 2022, Detectives were contacted by the staff from the Urban Collaborative Accelerated Program, a collaborative school located in Providence, regarding some financial irregularities. An investigation by the Detectives revealed evidence showing that $3,000,000 had been diverted from UCAP funds to a private account. Kaufman was employed by UCAP as the Director of Finance and Operations from 2011 to June 2022. In this role, Kaufman had access to all UCAP’s financial accounts. It is alleged that Kaufman transferred UCAP funds for his personal use.

Kaufman was arraigned at 6th District Court before Judge Melissa Dubose and released on $15,000.00 Surety Bail. He is scheduled to appear in 6th Division District Court for a Pre-Arraignment Conference on January 4, 2023.

A person convicted of Embezzlement shall be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars or three times the value of the money or property thus embezzled or converted, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, except that if the sum or value of the property embezzled is less than one hundred dollars, he or she shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. A person convicted of Access to a Computer for Fraudulent Purposes shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.