Purdue University Professor Accused Of Dealing Meth, Propositioning Women For Sex

A Purdue University professor is accused of dealing methamphetamines and offering money to women for sex, Indiana police said.

Sergey Macheret, 65, was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Tippecanoe County Jail.

The Lafayette Police Department began investigating after receiving multiple reports about a "suspcious" man approaching women. The weeks-long investigation into the complaints led to Macheret being identified as the suspect, according to the New York Post.

The professor of aeronautical and astronautical engineering has been teaching at Purdue since 2014 and is reportedly an award-winning academic and author. Further details about how he dealt methamphetamines or propositioned women for sex were not released.

Following his Wednesday arrest, Macheret is facing charges of dealing meth, possession of meth and making an unlawful proposition.

"Making an unlawful proposition" is defined as paying money or offering to pay money to someone for sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct, as per the state code, WLFI reported.

The professor was placed on leave and barred from entering the Purdue campus in light of the allegations against him. The university released the following statement and said it is cooperating with law enforcement officials.

"Purdue is aware of the arrest and charges. The university will cooperate fully with the investigation. The employee has been placed on leave pending further updates and legal proceedings and is barred from campus," the statement read.

"The School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is working to ensure that undergraduate and graduate student needs are met regarding lectures and labs. Purdue police will assist the Lafayette Police Department with the investigation as needed and cannot offer comment," it added.

Bill Crossley, head of the Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, sent an email to faculty and students, saying their concerns would be addressed.

"Purdue University, and the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is aware of the arrest of Sergey Macheret. Purdue and AAE will cooperate fully with the investigation," read the email.

"Prof. Macheret has been placed on leave effective immediately, and the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics is working to ensure that undergraduate and graduate student needs are met regarding lectures and labs. We will be following up with the students in AAE 334 and with Prof. Macheret's graduate students and postdocs shortly," Crossley added.