Former Iowa State employee accused of taking $68,000 in university funds

The+Campanile+held+a+concert+today+around+noon+on+Central+campus.+An+assortment+of+songs+were+played.

The Campanile held a concert today around noon on Central campus. An assortment of songs were played.

David Perrin

A former Iowa State employee is accused of improperly drawing $68,000 in funds from the Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation (QNDE) Programs account belonging to the the university.

Pamela Backstrom, who worked for the research center from August 2013 to January 2016, will most likely be charged with more than one crime — the formal announcement will be made sometime next week, as the lead investigator on the case has to first finish conferring with the state attorney’s office, according to the ISU PD.

QNED, which is a nonprofit research center, holds a conference annually and receives financial support from the university’s Center for Nondestructive Evaluation.

The ISU PD was alerted of $71,000 in funds not supported by the university that was spent from the QNED account in February of 2016. Backstrom is reported to be responsible for at least $68,000 of the money — $62,000 worth of the which were made up of cash-only withdrawals.

Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds told the Associated Press that her office is working in coordination with the university police, and that they expect to file theft charges soon.

Backstrom was not able to be contacted by the Associated Press.

“We treat it just like any other crime, whether it’s internal or external,” a member of the ISU PD said.