MTSU Professor Indicted for Theft, Misconduct in $8,200 Fraud

Don Hong, a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, has been indicted following a joint investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office into the misappropriation of university funds and donations. The probe found that Hong diverted at least $8,225.48 in donations intended for the Actuarial Science Program into his personal bank account, despite encouraging students to donate for the program. While he later returned some funds and an additional $11,700, he also used a false identity and fictitious business name to lease rental properties to international students recruited through his university role, accepted questionable payments from students, and used student labor for personal benefit. Hong is further accused of claiming reimbursements fraudulently, failing to report a student's violence allegation, and retaliating against a student whistleblower by submitting an anonymous academic misconduct tip under a fake identity. These allegations led to his indictment on multiple charges, including theft, forgery, criminal simulation, official misconduct, official oppression, and retaliation, and he is currently held on a $500,000 bond. The charges remain accusations until proven in court.