DeKALB – Six of the eight employees charged with felonies in connection with Northern Illinois University’s “coffee fund” investigation have returned to work, an NIU spokesman said Tuesday.

NIU’s general counsel is still reviewing materials related to Lawrence Murray, 52, of Rochelle, and Kenneth Pugh, 57, of Sycamore, to determine what, if any, disciplinary action should be taken against them, spokesman Paul Palian said. Their cases required more study because they are supervisors, Palian said.

“Obviously, if something comes out in the criminal court cases, we reserve the right to have disciplinary action,” Palian said of the six employees who had returned to work by Monday. “The reason they were placed on administrative leave was to maintain the status quo [for the investigation.]”