The former director of Duke University's bariatric surgery program and a former business manager in the surgery department have been charged with embezzling $267,000 from the university.

Bariatric surgeon Eric Joel DeMaria, MD, and John William Cotton, a former business manager in the surgical department, were arrested last week and released on $25,000 bonds, police told reporters. They've each been charged with embezzling more than $100,000 from Duke between January and December of last year.

Mr. Cotton was also charged with stealing more than $58,000 for personal use, according to a news report.

Both men "ceased to be Duke employees on Aug. 1," a university spokesman told reporters, declining to specify whether they resigned or were fired. Duke did not respond to a request for more details on the case.

Irene Tsikitas

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