On Wednesday, April 22, Steven Anthony Cowles, a former employee of The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS), was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison after admitting to embezzling over $1 million from the Claremont Colleges this January.
Cowles, former electrical shop supervisor, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in January, according to court documents, and, following his sentence, must restitute the full amount.
Over a period of 10 years, Cowles embezzled $1,000,571 through 1,343 unauthorized wire transactions. According to court documents, Cowles used a “P-Card,” an employee purchasing card provided by TCCS intended for buying parts and supplies for the colleges, to conceal the wire fraud. He created fictitious invoices and documents while also linking the P-Card to his personal PayPal account, court documents said.
In January 2024, Cowles committed interstate wire fraud by transferring $1,075.50 from the TCCS P-Card to his personal PayPal account via a server outside of California, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. He then concealed the fraud by issuing a false invoice to a company listed as “Mitchell Instrument Company Inc.”
Cowles’ defense team submitted a memorandum to the court on April 8, detailing his life and motivations leading up to the charges.
“Mr. Cowles diverted the funds to sustain a devastating opioid addiction that clouded his judgment, consumed his resources, and nearly took his life,” the memorandum said.
At the peak of his substance abuse disorder, Cowles spent $2,000 per week on pills alone, according to court documents.
TCCS issued a press release to TSL following the fraud in January, stating that TCCSs’ insurance coverage had absorbed most of the resulting financial loss.
Since Cowles’ sentencing, TCCS sent a follow-up press release to TSL, which said that the colleges have taken comprehensive steps to address the matter and protect the 7Cs going forward.
“This was a serious, long-running abuse of trust that caused significant financial and institutional harm to The Claremont Colleges Services,” Laura Muna-Landa, assistant vice president of communications for TCCS, said. “The matter required substantial time and attention to investigate and respond.”
“When an employee engages in a long-running scheme involving unauthorized transactions and false supporting documentation, it undermines confidence in the systems and relationships on which our work depends.”
TCCS said they implemented a series of enhanced financial controls in response to Cowles’ plea in January. Muna-Landa highlighted the colleges’ gratitude toward the U.S. attorney’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in pursuing Cowles’ fraud.
“Because this case involved the misuse of institutional resources over a period of years, it was important that it be pursued,” Muna-Landa wrote in the April press release. “We remain committed to accountability, stewardship, and the trust placed in our organization.”
Within a documented victim impact statement, TCCS Chief Executive Officer Stig Lanesskog wrote the fraud impacted the colleges not just financially, but as an institution.
“When an employee engages in a long-running scheme involving unauthorized transactions and false supporting documentation, it undermines confidence in the systems and relationships on which our work depends,” Lanesskog said in the statement. “The harm was felt not only in financial terms but also in the disruption to operations, the burden placed on colleagues, and the damage to institutional trust.”
In his memorandum, Cowles’ defense team described his familial and personal history with substance abuse disorder as well as his sobriety efforts since December 2024.
“Since then, Mr. Cowles has rebuilt himself from the ground up. He has maintained his sobriety for more than 15 months,” the memorandum read. “He is an active participant in multiple 12-step fellowships and attends weekly meetings with his sponsor.”
According to the memorandum, Cowles expressed regret for the fraud and a desire to change.
“Mr. Cowles is devoted to learning from his past mistakes. At his core, he is a man with ‘a good heart, a good soul’ who has endured a great deal of suffering in his life. And that suffering has only compounded since this legal process began — his relationship with his children is unraveling, and he is riddled with the shame of what he has done,” the memorandum read.
Cowles’ lawyer declined to comment.
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