Billy Wayne Wooten, the former executive director of a Virginia-based private university, was sentenced on May 1 to just over one year in federal prison for wire fraud after admitting to stealing more than $145,000 through fraudulent invoices and unauthorized credit card charges.
Wooten, 68, of Macon, Georgia, pleaded guilty in November 2025. He used his position at University Victim-1 beginning in 2018 to purchase personal items such as sports memorabilia and home improvements while disguising them as legitimate expenses for students. According to court documents, Wooten altered invoices and directed subordinates to make purchases on their own credit cards when his university-issued card reached its limit.
In one case cited by prosecutors, Wooten bought professional basketball trading cards valued at more than $17,000 and manipulated the invoice so it appeared related to a charitable cause. He also removed vendor contact information before submitting reimbursement requests.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Richmond Division announced the sentence. The FBI investigated the case with Assistant U.S. Attorney Vito Iaio prosecuting.
The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia promotes public safety and community well-being through crime prevention initiatives and outreach efforts according to its official website. The office is part of the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website and handles federal prosecutions as well as civil litigation across western Virginia according to its official website. Offices are located in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Abingdon, Lynchburg, Danville and Harrisonburg according to its official website.
The office partners with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies on public safety matters according to its official website, reflecting a broader effort by authorities in western Virginia to prosecute federal crimes while supporting community programs.
