American ingenuity is the pride of Ivy League schools like Harvard University, Princeton University and Columbia University. Have you read about the $5.7 million theft from Columbia University?

George Castro, 48, was charged last year with sending 56 Columbia University payments for New York Presbyterian Hospital to a TD Bank account registered in the name of a company he formed. In a new indictment, charges of participating in the fraud were added against Walter Stephens, Jr. 65, and Jeremy Dieudonne, 46.

Castro allegedly distributed the money to bank accounts in his name, sent money to family and friends, and bought an $80,000 Audi Q7 automobile and more than $18,000 of Apple Inc. products, after his arrest in last December. Castro, of the Bronx, and his company, IT & Securities Solutions LLC, have no affiliation with either the hospital or the university.

None of the men was employed by Columbia, nor had the university done business with the company. So just how did they manage to steal so much money?

The men are charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. Castro also is charged with money laundering. If convicted of the top charges, all three face a maximum of 8 1/3 to 25 years behind bars.

Again, like always, I ask why. Why are people not willing to work to fulfill the American Dream. America is a land of opportunity. Perhaps what all these hoodlums need is a good dose of an theft class online or at least a New York Theft Class.