Former Cornell Fraternity Ordered To Pay $12,000 For Hazing Death

Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a former fraternity at Cornell University, received the maximum sentence for a conviction in the 2011 hazing death of a pledge, George Desdunes.

In February 2011, Desdunes, 19, was found unresponsive on a couch in the SAE house by a custodian. According to the Ithaca Independent, a medical report later said his body's blood alcohol level was 0.35.

In June, a judge found the fraternity guilty of unlawfully dealing with a child conviction, criminal nuisance and hazing. The frat now must pay a total of $12,000, WBNG reports.

According to the AP, the national Sigma Alpha Epsiolon said "the fine would be paid by the chapter," even though the chapter no longer exists. Cornell stopped recognizing the fraternity after Desdunes's death.

YNN reports Desdunes's mother asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence to send a message that hazing will not be tolerated.