Former professor pleads guilty to false statements

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A former Iowa State University professor has pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agency.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that Palaniappa Molian, of Ames, pleaded guilty Friday to two felony counts related to making false statements to the National Science Foundation.

Molian acknowledged in a written plea agreement that in December 2009, he was working as a principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant to Iowa State when he submitted a reimbursement expense voucher containing false statements. Molian sought reimbursement for travel to Boston, which he said was for grant research but actually was for an unrelated reason.

Molian also acknowledged submitting a report to the National Science Foundation that contained false statements.

U.S. District Judge James Gritzner will sentence Molian on April 25.