Ex-Med School Chief Admits To Padding Compensation By $250K

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — The former president of a New York state academic medical center has pleaded guilty to illegally padding his compensation by nearly $250,000.

State officials say Dr. David Smith, former leader of the State University of New York's Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, pleaded guilty Monday in city court to official misconduct. Smith was arrested, arraigned and entered his pleas within a few hours in Syracuse City Court.

Smith, who resigned in 2013, was accused of increasing his pay over a seven-year period without SUNY permission.

His actions included ordering a subordinate to improperly give him a nearly $30,000-a-year raise through the SUNY research foundation.

In all, Smith has to repay more than $247,000 to the state.

His sentencing is set for Dec. 10.

The case was investigated by the state attorney general's and inspector general's offices.