Ex-U of L employee sentenced to 37 months

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A former employee of the University of Louisville equine industry program who pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud and money laundering charges has been sentenced to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay more than $460,000 in restitution.

U.S. District Judge Jennifer Coffman sentenced 41-year-old Alisha Ward to 37 months on Monday. She also ordered her to spend three years on supervised release and pay $461,889.47 in restitution to the university.

Ward pleaded guilty in April. She had been fired from her $42,000-a-year job as senior program coordinator.

The U.S. attorney's office says the plea agreement indicated Ward fraudulently obtained funds from the Equine Riding and Racing Club student account and fraudulently used a university procurement card for personal use, including remodeling in her home.