Phoenix Executive Charged with Embezzling $11 Million

Phoenix, Arizona - Douglas Ross Zuber, 40, of Phoenix, has been indicted on one count of money laundering, one count of theft and one count of fraudulent schemes and artifices. The charges relate to Zubers alleged embezzlement of nearly $11 million from his employer, Harvard Investments, Inc. (Harvard), and its subsidiaries. Between 1999 and 2006, Zuber was employed as executive vice president at Harvard, a Scottsdale-based real estate acquisition and development corporation. His responsibilities included managing many of the companys real estate projects and subsidiary partnerships. During this time period, Zuber allegedly created an elaborate scheme to fraudulently direct nearly $11 million from Harvard and its subsidiary partnerships into bank accounts he controlled. As part of the scheme, it is alleged that Zuber created fictitious vendors, opened bank accounts in those vendors names and submitted phony invoices and tax identification information for those vendors to Harvard. This case is the result of an internal investigation by Harvard which was referred to the Attorney Generals Office.