Charges: Former St. Kate's Dean of Nursing funneled $400K to boyfriend's fake business

A now-former St. Catherine's University nursing dean is accused of sending over $400,000 of university funds to her boyfriend's fake business and using it to travel to popular vacation destinations together.

Laura Jean Fero, 54, served in the position at the university from June 2019 to August 2023. Aside from her role as the Dean of Nursing, she also was responsible for administering the university's GHR Legacy Grant, which is dedicated to programs to prepare healthcare professionals.

After she left, police in St. Paul were notified by St. Kate officials who suspected Fero of embezzlement, with investigators learning that Fero authorized payments from the university without any approval.

According to the complaint, Fero entered a partnership with her boyfriend's business, JB & Associates LLC, which turned out to be a fake marketing company. Her boyfriend, 56-year-old Juan Ramon Bruce, has already been charged with six counts of theft by swindle in connection to Fero's case.

Court records allege $412,644 was embezzled between Fero and Bruce's company.

Investigators found emails that confirmed both Fero and Bruce were in an intimate relationship during the majority of her time at the university.

Investigators believe evidence collected through emails, reports and other records suggests that both Fero and Bruce were utilizing her position to "transfer money to Bruce while they were in a romantic relationship" and that they were "explicitly working together to take money from the university."

Work reports provided to the university supposedly from Bruce were determined to actually be authored by Fero after she had left her position.

Fero was arrested at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport on May 8 after she flew from Orlando to Minnesota. Fero's residence is listed in Florida, court records indicate.

According to the complaint, Fero claimed she didn't think she was violating university conflict-of-interest policy in regards to her relationship with Bruce, claiming she believed the policy "only referred to married people."

The complaint against Bruce highlights how Fero allegedly used a university procurement card to fund various vacations and trips from June 2021 to August 2023. The list of destinations includes Atlanta, Cancun, Miami, Orlando and Phoenix, with the card also being used for other expenses on the trips such as hotels and rental cars.

A St. Catherine University spokesperson said it won't be commenting on the case.

Just like Bruce, Fero is charged with six counts of theft by swindle. Her next court appearance is scheduled for June 7, while Bruce made his first court appearance on Monday.