The University of Illinois’s director of bands resigned this week amid an investigation into allegations he sold unneeded musical instruments owned by the university and deposited the funds into his personal bank account, the Associated Press reports. His name and bio have already been removed from the university’s website, although news agencies reported he was the fifth director in the university’s vaunted history since Albert Austin Harding served 41 years starting in 1907.
Robert Rumbelow, via his Twitter account
Dr Robert Rumbelow, 48, who is facing felony theft charges, wrote a check to the university for $86,000 on Thursday and paid an additional $1,600 on Friday as restitution, based on the amount the university said he owed.
He has admitted to selling several of the school’s used musical instruments on eBay and by other means and depositing the funds into his personal accounts. He says, however, that he never spent any of the money and was always planning to donate the money anonymously to the university in order to upgrade the band program and provide funding for a feasibility study that would examine structural improvements to the band building.
His lawyer admitted the fundraising method was unconventional and violated university policy but claims there was no criminal intent, only the idea that he could enhance the university’s receipts from the sale of the instruments by selling them himself.
“He had the idea that he would get much better returns not trading them in, but to sell them, and develop funds,” Dan Jackson, who is Dr Rumbelow’s attorney, was quoted as saying. “And he did that. But being a musician and not a lawyer or a businessman, he didn’t do that in a way that he would want to do again.”
“It was alleged he sold instruments that belonged to the band department and pocketed several thousand dollars from the unauthorized sale of university assets,” according to Tom Geis of the university police, who was quoted in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. An investigation started in June, when officials at the university’s ethics office in Springfield received complaints.
The police also reported some financial transactions in this case that look suspicious: The Nashville Public School District in Tennessee wrote a check directly to Dr Rumbelow for $22,000 for four Selmer Paris contralto clarinets, and several thousand dollars in home improvement expenses has been discovered on Dr Rumbelow’s “P-card,” which university officials can use like a credit card.
Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said her office is reviewing the police investigation and hasn’t filed any charges. She said that although Dr Rumbelow repaid the money, that “won’t negate the possibility of charges, although it certainly is something to consider.”
