SAN JUAN COUNTY — A New Mexico woman who worked as a recruiter for Utah State University’s Blanding campus has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly using a university-issued card for personal expenses and falsifying travel reimbursements, costing the institution more than $25,000.
Angela Aurora Rodriguez, 46, faces three second-degree felony charges: theft by deception, misuse of public money and communications fraud, all involving amounts over $5,000.
According to a probable cause statement, filed by the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Rodriguez was employed by USU between July 2023 and April 2024. Her job involved recruiting students from high schools in New Mexico. During her employment, she was issued a “P-card” for work expenses and was reimbursed for travel-related costs, which required her to submit a mileage log and receipts documenting her work-related travel.
Prosecutors allege Rodriguez made $5,233 in unauthorized charges on the P-card. In January 2024, she allegedly used the card to purchase an Apple computer despite already having a USU-issued device. When questioned by her supervisor, she reportedly admitted the computer was a personal purchase and said she planned to reimburse the university, though court documents indicate she never did.
During the same month, Rodriguez allegedly used the P-card to purchase airline tickets and other expenses for an eight-day personal trip to Illinois. When questioned, she claimed it was an accident and that she would reimburse USU, which she never did, according to court records.
Beyond the P-card misuse, Rodriguez is accused of submitting $19,891 worth of “illegitimate” mileage reimbursements. Court documents state she submitted for non-work-related travel that took place after hours and to schools she had not visited. There were also discrepancies between the locations of her P-card purchases and her reported travel locations and miles. Officials at high schools Rodriguez claimed to have visited reported they did not know her and had not hosted USU recruiters in years.
Rodriguez was terminated from her position in April 2024. She is not currently in custody, but a summons has been issued for her to appear in court in San Juan County.
Individuals arrested and charged in complaints are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.