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DIA Financial Director Fired, Accused of Falsifying Credentials

DENVER (CBS4) - Denver International Airport's financial director in the Finance and Accounting Division, Laura Trujillo, has been fired, accused by airport authorities of fabricating her academic and financial credentials for years.

"I don't want a story written," Trujillo told CBS4. "It's a humiliation for me."

Trujillo, who worked for the City of Denver for nearly 30 years, rose to one of the top financial positions at DIA in 2013, becoming the financial director/controller for Denver International Airport. She said she oversaw hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and expenses. She told CBS4 she was making $123,000 per year when she was fired May 6. She has filed an appeal of her termination.

After getting into a verbal spat with a colleague in February, an outside investigator was brought in from the Mountain States Employers Council. That investigator began delving into Trujillo's resume which said she possessed a "CPA certification." Airport authorities also say Trujillo said she had passed the CPA exam in 1994. CBS4 uncovered an online bio posted by a community organization where Trujillo served as treasurer.

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(credit: CBS)

"I was certified as CPA in 1995," reads the bio. "And continue to take CPE (continuing education classes) each year to maintain my certification."

However the city investigation concluded there was no record of Trujillo ever having a CPA license, no record of her ever having applied for such a license, and no record of her ever having applied to take the CPA exam in Colorado.

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(credit: CBS)

In a phone conversation with CBS4, Trujillo conceded she did not have a CPA license but claimed she had never asserted that she did -- only that she had some CPA training.

But the city contends there are equally problematic issues with Trujillo's academic background.

In the online biography unearthed by CBS4, Trujillo is quoted as saying, "I am a Colorado native and attended the University of Northern Colorado for three years and received my finance degree with an accounting emphasis from Metro State College in 1986."

Trujillo apparently reiterated that claim multiple times to the city.

"You had indicated on your very first application in 1987 that you possessed a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Metropolitan State College. You additionally reported that you possessed a Bachelor's degree on job applications submitted on Jan. 4, 2000, April 6, 2010 and Jan. 20, 2015."

But the city report goes on to say, "The Metropolitan State University Office of the Registrar was contacted on April 3, 2015. The Registrar's Office stated that you did not receive a Bachelor's degree in any subject from their institution and the documentation that they provided reflects that you only completed 54 credit hours, far short from obtaining a degree."

When contacted by CBS4, Trujillo offered multiple explanations, saying at one point she did not have a degree from Metro State and was "a credit short." She said there had been a problem getting college credits transferred properly. But she later said she was "looking for the diploma" that she said she received.

Trujillo said not only is she appealing her DIA firing, but that she is pursuing an EEOC complaint saying that DIA administrators did not like her and would not promote her.

"I have so much dirt on DIA," said Trujillo. "I'm actually happy I'm gone."

Trujillo's attorney, Leonard Martinez, provided a letter to CBS4 saying, "Ms. Trujillo can prove her honesty in these matters." Martinez did not provide any further information or documentation regarding Trujillo's financial or educational credentials. He wrote that Trujillo "has an outstanding work history and an established high level of respect within the City and County of Denver and the outside financial community."

Kim Day, DIA's CEO, declined to be interviewed but released a statement to CBS4 saying, "An investigation of this employee revealed some disturbing issues regarding conduct and qualifications and we have dealt with the situation accordingly."

Day said it was a personnel matter and she could not elaborate.

"We believe terminating this employee was the right business decision for the airport and for the city. Since this employee was hired many years ago, city policies have changed to prevent situations like this from occurring."

CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.

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