Delaware man charged with faking his way into Harvard

MARK PRATT

Associated Press Writer

WOBURN, Mass. (AP) - A Delaware man has been charged with faking his way into Harvard and duping the Ivy League school out of $45,000 in financial aid, grants and scholarships.

Prosecutors say 23-year-old Adam Wheeler got admitted to Harvard by falsely claiming he had earned a perfect academic record at Phillips Academy in Andover and during a year of study at MIT, even though he did not go to either school.

Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said Wheeler's attempts to be an over-achiever were his undoing: Harvard started to probe Wheeler's background after he sought the school's endorsement for Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships.

Wheeler was indicted on 20 offenses. He's set for arraignment Tuesday.

A number listed to Wheeler in Milton, Del., has been disconnected. Prosecutors don't know if he has a lawyer.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.