Cat allegedly gets college degree

DALLAS, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Pennsylvania attorney general is trying to shutdown a Texas business that allegedly issued a bogus college degree to a cat in an undercover operation.

Authorities say a Frisco man and his brother used spam e-mail to peddle degrees from an operation they called Trinity Southern University, the Dallas Morning News reported Thursday.

Colby Nolan, the undercover cat, received an MBA and a transcript with a 3.5 grade-point average, for $398, officials say. Colby qualified on work experience after the agents said he had finished courses at a community college and worked as a fast-food manager and other jobs.

Craig Barton Poe, 35, of Frisco, was named in the civil complaint, along with brother Alton Scott Poe, 40, of St. Cloud, Fla. Craig Poe had no comment when contacted and his brother could not be reached, the News said.

Pennsylvania authorities are seeking a permanent injunction against the operation, civil penalties and restitution for violating consumer laws and restrictions on unsolicited e-mail advertisements.