Fairfax, Va (WUSA9) — A George Mason University student has been charged with distributing the LSD that a fellow student took before plunging to his death.
Tristan Tanner Medina,19, died September 30, 2017, after jumping or falling out of a fifth floor window of a residence hall.
According to the Fairfax County Commonwealth's Attorney, Alejandro Porrata, 19, of Annandale, Va., was indicted by a grand jury after Medina's death.
The two Mason students were members of the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
The death investigation opened up a university probe into an alleged cheating scandal after stolen exams were allegedly found on Medina's computer, which also implicated the fraternity.
The SAE fraternity has been temporarily suspended from campus while the investigation continues, according to GMU spokesman Michael Sandler.
Some students told WUSA that they are aware of fraternities and sororities having copies of tests.
Search warrants just unsealed reveal stolen university exams were found on the student's computer.
The warrants show communication about "test banks" between leaders of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
One allegedly wrote to another, "Yo, (name) how can I get one of the tests from our test bank?"
Junior Nabeeha Shah said, "I heard rumors about it, I have friends who are in Greek life, other than that, it's kind of like hush, but...ever since this happened I guess it's not anymore."
Other student knew nothing about test banks.
"It's not a good look for our school. We don't want George Mason to have that kind of reputation at all," said Shah.
GMU spokesman Sandler sent the following statement to WUSA9 on Wednesday:
"In September, police opened a criminal investigation into the death of a student on campus. During the course of that investigation, police discovered a test bank, which included images of university exams that people could access.
The issue of the test bank was referred to the Office of Student Conduct to look into the misuse of university documents. No criminal charges have been brought.
Student Conduct began an administrative process that can result in disciplinary action. The university cannot discuss the identity of students involved or any potential disciplinary action against the individuals, as they are considered educational records and are protected under FERPA. The fraternity was suspended on an interim basis pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing. That process is still underway and final disciplinary action may follow."
