Wisconsin man reportedly is currently facing criminal charges, reportedly reporting Sunday that he has found a way to live rent for years at Marquette University.
Michael Gerald, 40, works at the Marquette University Residence Life office, lives in an apartment through his job, and had to pay rent. According to To Wisn, an ABC affiliate. He allegedly changed housing data through his job so that he could live without rent from 2013 to 2024, according to his local outlet.
His work is said to have given him access to the university’s Residence Life internal database. He gave him the ability to modify and create entries for the program, and Wisn cited criminal charges.
Authorities say Gerald paid rent in the 2013-2014 school year, but stopped paying from 2014-2015 and avoided charging his account. The complaint claimed that he changed the status of his apartment and that it appears that staff members live there or that there was a room acquisition in December 2014.
The outlet reports that rent costs have been reversed for the fall semester of 2015 and spring 2016. Through the suspect change, Gerald saved about $63,500 from 2016 to 2024, with no rent.
He also allegedly changed the program’s data to explain why rent was not collected from that particular unit. (Related: “Rooftop Ninja” discovered living in a shop sign, police say.
Man faces billing for ten years of rent-free life through Marquette Database scam | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/ka0bystwi1
– WISN 12 News (@wisn12news) March 1, 2025
Gerald initially claimed that the former Residence Life Director allowed him to live in the apartment before he recognized him as responsible for making changes to the university’s database, Wisn reported. He is reportedly afraid that the new director who took over in 2015 would say he is not eligible to live in the apartment.
According to WISN, the 40-year-old boy faces multiple charges, including counting one computer crime and misrepresentation theft by modifying data.
He is scheduled to appear in his first court on March 24th. According to To FOX6. Marquette University confirmed with the outlet that Gerrard was not employed by the university.
