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Lawsuit: Inmate tried to buy influence in prison

By WTOP Staff

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — A former driver and personal assistant to imprisoned hedge-fund founder Raj Rajaratnam says he was asked to help funnel money from his boss to other inmates at a federal prison in Massachusetts.

The allegations are contained in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed June 20 in U.S. District Court by the driver, Peter Malaszuk, against the 57-year-old Rajaratnam.

The lawsuit also names as defendants Rajaratnam’s wife, Asha Pabla, and the Synamon Management Group, a South Carolina-based company she owns, which employed Malaszuk.

Rajaratnam, founder of the Galleon Group, is serving an 11-year sentence for insider trading at a minimum-security Devens Federal Medical Center in Ayer, Massachusetts.

Malaszuk was Rajaratnam’s driver for 15 years and the caretaker of his Greenwich estate, according to the lawsuit.

He alleges that during visits to his boss in prison, the onetime billionaire gave him names and contact information for the family members of about 20 other inmates at the facility who were to receive money.

“Mr. Rajaratnam secretly passed these pieces of paper to Mr. Malaszuk and ordered Mr. Malaszuk to make these wire transfers to fellow inmates in order to control these other inmates and have them do his bidding,” according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit cites a 2013 New York Post article, which reported that Rajaratnam had a personal servant at the prison, use of a private bathroom, and an adjustable bed.

The prison’s public information officer did not immediately return a message Wednesday seeking comment.

Malaszuk alleges he lost his job after complaining to Rajaratnam that he didn’t want to jeopardize his own freedom by conducting illegal transactions for him.

Terence Lynam, Rajaratnam’s attorney, said in a statement Wednesday that the allegations are false and “simply the latest in a long-running effort by an embittered former employee to extort money from Mr. Rajaratnam and his family.”

Rajaratnam is scheduled to be released from prison in 2021. In his criminal case, he was fined $10 million and was ordered to forfeit $53.8 million. He also was ordered to pay a record $92.8 million civil penalty to the SEC.

His conviction was among more than two dozen in a case the government touted at the time as the biggest insider trading prosecution in history.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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