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A former University of Maryland, University College employee allegedly used a university credit card to improperly purchase $8,800 in electronics in 2005, according to a state legislative audit released June 12.

The employee worked 17 months at UMUC before resigning in October 2005. As part of her job, she used the card to purchase $523,900 in mainly computer and electronic equipment for the Adelphi-based university.

This included $8,800 in laptop computers, music players, cameras and other items shipped to her home address in August and September 2005.

She also bought a flat-screen television, laptop and two digital cameras that could not be accounted for on campus. The total cost of those items was $2,800.

State and university officials declined to identify the former employee or her position with the university because she could become the focus of a criminal investigation.

"It's not that we didn't know the purchases were made," said UMUC spokesman Chip Cassano. "[But] we didn't have any indication that there was any fraud involved."

The state Office of Legislative Audits performs audits on state agencies every three years. The UMUC audit covered the school's operations from July 1, 2005 to July 31, 2008.

In the past, auditors have found irregularities at other state universities, said legislative auditor Bruce Myers. In some cases, they were discovered and reported by the universities themselves.

"We do see this sometimes," Myers said. "Whether it's us that find it or not, it's out there."

UMUC officials cited a lack of oversight by the employee's supervisor, who they said did not regularly review or approve credit card statements. The supervisor resigned in June 2006, nearly three years before the improprieties were discovered.

"Most places have a monthly procedure," Myers said. "Someone's got to make sure the procedures are being carried out."

In a letter to the Office of Legislative Audits, university officials said they have re-trained employees to be more stringent in approving and reviewing credit card purchases.

"We have since taken steps to improve the system so that it will continue to work properly even if a supervisor should prove to be slow or negligent," UMUC Chief Financial Officer George A. Shoenberger said in a statement.

The university referred the former employee's case to state Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler.

Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for Gansler, declined to comment on whether the attorney general was pursuing the case.

In Maryland, theft of more than $500 is considered a felony.

On June 3, Cheryl Denise Green, a University of Maryland, Baltimore employee, was convicted of felony theft, sentenced to five years in prison with all but one year suspended and ordered to pay full restitution after she used a university credit card to buy more than $332,000 in personal goods.

"[The UMUC employee] could face similar charges," suggested Ramon Korionoff, a spokesman for Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey, who is not involved with either case. Korionoff added that a possible jail sentence would depend on whether the defendant has a prior criminal record.