San Antonio TX, October 9, 2025
News Summary
An internal review has revealed allegations of misuse of university credit cards at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Daniel Garza, a former purchasing director, claims he raised concerns about improper transactions, which included fine dining and alcohol purchases that went unaddressed. The situation has prompted administrative actions and a referral to state auditors for further investigation. Several employees are implicated, highlighting issues in procurement policies and oversight at the university.
San Antonio — An internal review and multiple records show alleged misuse of university credit cards and internal procurement oversight failures at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, prompting administrative actions and a referral to state auditors. The matter centers on expense reports, procurement policy gaps, and several university employees, with internal emails and records indicating some complaints were raised but not acted on.
Key developments
Daniel Garza, former director of purchasing and auxiliary services at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, claims he warned superiors about improper credit card use by employees.
Complaints regarding issues such as fine dining and purchase of alcohol were reportedly ignored by higher-ups.
Internal email and expense report records substantiate Garza’s assertions of ignored complaints.
Garza highlights the introduction of policies and procedures to modernize procurement at the university, which lacked any prior rules.
Alcohol purchases were prohibited according to procurement rules during Garza’s tenure.
Specific alleged transactions and personnel
Former Provost Michael O’Brien allegedly charged alcohol to his meals on multiple occasions, including a $500 dinner at Morton’s The Steakhouse in February 2019.
O’Brien used his university P-Card to charge alcohol without food at Doc’s Seafood and Steaks and at the Park Hyatt Lounge in Washington, D.C.
Internal records indicated that complaints about O’Brien’s expenditures were reported to Dr. Bill Spindle, former chief financial officer of the university.
An investigation into improper purchases led to the deactivation of O’Brien’s administrative assistant’s P-Card due to missing receipts.
O’Brien expressed frustration via email regarding scrutiny over minor receipts from past months, reportedly threatening to escalate the issue if it continued.
Spindle later ordered the removal of all merchant blocks from O’Brien’s and then-President Cynthia Teniente-Matson’s cards.
O’Brien stepped down as provost in late 2021 amid budget shortfalls yet remains a faculty member at the university.
Other flagged employees and purchases
Jessica Loudermilk, former chief of staff to Matson, allegedly made alcoholic purchases with her P-Card at least ten times without any reported disciplinary action.
The former director of financial aid, Phillip Rodgers, was flagged for technology purchases made without prior IT approval, although these were later approved retroactively.
Tickets to sporting events were purchased with university credit cards, a violation of prior procurement rules, but no applicable policies were found concerning Texas A&M System’s ticket purchases.
Investigation details and outcomes
Garza quit due to the stress and disregard for procurement rules, citing health effects.
Garza decided to speak out following a KSAT Investigates story regarding Christina Gomez, the former HR manager accused of misuse of a university credit card.
Gomez reportedly made 211 questionable purchases valued at $70,135, including personal expenses on her reports.
She allegedly used a coworker’s digital signature without consent to process lost receipt forms and her own expense reports.
The investigation into Gomez’s actions has been forwarded to the Texas State Auditor’s investigations team.
The university has identified corrective actions, including barring Gomez from rehire and enhancing training for account managers.
Responses and oversight
A Texas A&M-San Antonio spokeswoman deferred inquiries about university procurement policies to the Texas A&M University System.
The records and actions described indicate a mix of policy introduction, reactive corrective steps, and unresolved questions about prior oversight and enforcement.
Background and context
The university’s procurement environment was described by internal sources as undergoing modernization after a period without written procedures, prompting the implementation of new policies and training for account managers as a corrective step. The matters outlined in internal records and reports triggered administrative responses, targeted deactivations of cards for missing documentation, and at least one referral to the state auditor’s office for further review.
Table: Key features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary allegation | Misuse of university credit cards and internal procurement oversight failures |
| Named complainant | Daniel Garza, former director of purchasing and auxiliary services at Texas A&M University-San Antonio |
| Noted transactions | $500 dinner at Morton’s (February 2019); 211 questionable purchases valued at $70,135 |
| Administrative outcomes | Merchant blocks removed, P-Card deactivations, barring Gomez from rehire, enhanced training |
| External review | Investigation forwarded to the Texas State Auditor’s investigations team |
Timeline
| Date/Time | Event | Status/Source |
|---|---|---|
| February 2019 | $500 dinner at Morton’s The Steakhouse charged to Michael O’Brien | Internal records |
| Late 2021 | Michael O’Brien stepped down as provost amid budget shortfalls | University personnel records |
| Undated | Internal complaints about fine dining, alcohol purchases, and ignored warnings | Internal email and expense report records |
| Undated | Investigation into Christina Gomez forwarded to Texas State Auditor’s investigations team | Investigative records |
Simple visual statistics
Reported counts and values of flagged purchases:
FAQ
What did Daniel Garza claim?
Daniel Garza, former director of purchasing and auxiliary services at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, claims he warned superiors about improper credit card use by employees.
Were complaints ignored?
Complaints regarding issues such as fine dining and purchase of alcohol were reportedly ignored by higher-ups.
Is there documentation supporting the claims?
Internal email and expense report records substantiate Garza’s assertions of ignored complaints.
Were there procurement rules at the university?
Garza highlights the introduction of policies and procedures to modernize procurement at the university, which lacked any prior rules.
What was the policy on alcohol?
Alcohol purchases were prohibited according to procurement rules during Garza’s tenure.
What did Michael O’Brien allegedly do?
Former Provost Michael O’Brien allegedly charged alcohol to his meals on multiple occasions, including a $500 dinner at Morton’s The Steakhouse in February 2019.
Did Michael O’Brien use the P-Card without food?
O’Brien used his university P-Card to charge alcohol without food at Doc’s Seafood and Steaks and at the Park Hyatt Lounge in Washington, D.C.
Were complaints about O’Brien reported to others?
Internal records indicated that complaints about O’Brien’s expenditures were reported to Dr. Bill Spindle, former chief financial officer of the university.
Were any cards deactivated?
An investigation into improper purchases led to the deactivation of O’Brien’s administrative assistant’s P-Card due to missing receipts.
How did O’Brien respond to scrutiny?
O’Brien expressed frustration via email regarding scrutiny over minor receipts from past months, reportedly threatening to escalate the issue if it continued.
Were merchant blocks removed?
Spindle later ordered the removal of all merchant blocks from O’Brien’s and then-President Cynthia Teniente-Matson’s cards.
What happened to O’Brien later?
O’Brien stepped down as provost in late 2021 amid budget shortfalls yet remains a faculty member at the university.
What allegations involve Jessica Loudermilk?
Jessica Loudermilk, former chief of staff to Matson, allegedly made alcoholic purchases with her P-Card at least ten times without any reported disciplinary action.
Were technology purchases flagged?
The former director of financial aid, Phillip Rodgers, was flagged for technology purchases made without prior IT approval, although these were later approved retroactively.
Were tickets purchased with university cards?
Tickets to sporting events were purchased with university credit cards, a violation of prior procurement rules, but no applicable policies were found concerning Texas A&M System’s ticket purchases.
Why did Garza leave?
Garza quit due to the stress and disregard for procurement rules, citing health effects.
What prompted Garza to speak publicly?
Garza decided to speak out following a KSAT Investigates story regarding Christina Gomez, the former HR manager accused of misuse of a university credit card.
What are the allegations against Christina Gomez?
Gomez reportedly made 211 questionable purchases valued at $70,135, including personal expenses on her reports.
Did Gomez misuse digital signatures?
She allegedly used a coworker’s digital signature without consent to process lost receipt forms and her own expense reports.
Was the Gomez case referred to external investigators?
The investigation into Gomez’s actions has been forwarded to the Texas State Auditor’s investigations team.
What corrective actions were identified?
The university has identified corrective actions, including barring Gomez from rehire and enhancing training for account managers.
Who did the university direct procurement policy questions to?
A Texas A&M-San Antonio spokeswoman deferred inquiries about university procurement policies to the Texas A&M University System.
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Additional Resources
- KSAT Investigates: Ex-Purchasing Director
- Wikipedia: Credit Card Fraud
- KSAT Investigates: Fraud Allegations
- Google Search: Texas AM San Antonio Fraud Investigation
- Express News: San Antonio Public Safety
- Google Scholar: Elder Abuse San Antonio
- Kerr County Lead: Tap-to-Pay Scam Warning
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tap-to-Pay Technology
- Fox San Antonio: Farmers Warning
- Google News: Head Blight Fungus San Antonio
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