Michael Geddati (This photo was taken from Geddati’s Facebook page when it was publicly available.)
Michael Geddati, a former pre-med student at Rhodes, accessed his professors’ online accounts multiple times from December 2017 to May 2018. His efforts to change his grades and obtain exam information lead to his expulsion from Rhodes and a plea deal, in which he owes $72,015 in restitution.
Once the FBI got involved, Geddati’s professors were interviewed. Though some teachers did not keep offline records to track grading discrepancies, they saw similarities in Geddati’s academic abilities.
“His professors remembered him as a D-student,†said Debra Ireland, a United States Attorney who brought the case against Geddati.
Beginning in 2017, Geddati illegally acquired his professors’ login information for cheating purposes, in hopes to maintain his $30,000 scholarship. He did so by using multiple computers, including on-campus computers and his laptop, for six months before one professor noticed a grade discrepancy.
After the FBI finished the investigation, they came to the conclusion that Geddati was solely responsible for the changes and his actions were intentional.
Geddati’s fraudulent crimes are punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine that does not exceed $250,000, according to U.S. Title 18, §1030, but his plea deal is slightly different.
In addition to paying the hefty restitution sum, he was ordered to inform his employer of his crimes, surrender his passport and remain on probation in the Western District of Tennessee, according to the plea deal signed Feb. 12.
The extent of Geddati’s punishment has been questioned, while Rhodes’ campus newspaper, The Sou’wester, has faced mixed opinions on its original reporting of the case.Â
“Any discomfort the defendant may face is the result of the news coverage pales in comparison to the discomfort he feels as a result of his actions,†said Wendi Thomas, the editor of MLK50: Justice Through Journalism.Â
Thomas also quoted The Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics, and said journalists should balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. In her opinion, the original The Sou’wester article reflected that.Â
Rhodes students, faculty and nearby community members were notified by Provost Milton Moreland of the incident. At the University of Memphis, students had some opinions on the case.
“I believe in second chances,†said Austin Barr, a senior mechanical engineering major at the UofM. “I think the FBI should hire that man.â€
Whether Geddati is able to salvage his reputation or not, his official sentencing will be May 24 with Judge Thomas L. Parker.
