When Adam B. Wheeler applied to Harvard University with a perfect record from Phillips Academy, it was just too good to be true. According to a press release from the Middlesex District Attorney, Wheeler has been arraigned on 20 offenses involving larceny, identity fraud, falsifying an endorsement and pretending to hold a degree. One of the falsifications was a transcript from Phillips Academy on which he claimed nearly perfect grades. However, the press release stated, Wheeler fabricated the application that he sent to Harvard University, and never attended either Phillips Academy or Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Tracy Sweet, Director of Academy Communications, said, “The individual arrested in connection with this case has had no association whatsoever with Phillips Academy. The Academy will continue to cooperate fully with the district attorney’s investigation.” “The Academy has cooperated fully with the [District Attorney’s] ongoing investigation, but, until this week, has had few details about the exact charges or the details of the case,” she continued. The District Attorney’s press release reports that he is being held on $5000 bail on the grounds that he stay away from Harvard University, MIT, Brown University, Yale University, Phillips Academy Andover and McLean Hospital at Harvard. Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said in the press release, “[Wheeler] undermined the integrity of the competitive admissions process, compromised the reputation of some of the finest educators and educational institutions in the country, and cheated those who competed honestly for what he fraudulently received.” “He is also alleged to have stolen over $45,000 in grants, scholarship and financial aid money awarded to him on applications and submissions of documents that were based on lies and reproductions of other people’s hard work,” Leone continued. Earlier this year, Wheeler was expelled from Harvard University for academic dishonesty, according to the Harvard Crimson. According to the District Attorney’s Office, this was not the first time that Wheeler had been accused of cheating. Wheeler was suspended from Bowdoin College in Maine in 2007 for academic dishonesty. In September 2009, Wheeler applied for both a Fulbright and a Rhodes scholarship. According to the press release, while reviewing Wheeler’s applications a Harvard professor became suspicious of his applications. Leone said, “The defendant’s application consisted of his college transcript that reflected perfect grades over three years, a project statement resume listing numerous books he had co-authored, lectures he had given and courses he had taught.” The District Attorney’s Office reports that after the allegations, the University conducted a full internal investigation of Wheeler’s academic profile and discovered the he never attended MIT or Phillips Academy. It was also found that Wheeler’s recommendations were signed by professors at Bowdoin College, many of whom denied knowing him, the District Attorney’s Office reports. The Harvard Crimson reported that Wheeler applied for an internship at New Republic Magazine. The magazine released his resume online Wednesday. The resume claimed that Wheeler had delivered 3 lectures during his time at Harvard, none of which are included in the list of past events, according to the Harvard Crimson. The resume also said that Wheeler had worked as a writing tutor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, a position that, according to the Harvard Crimson, does not exist.
