Friday, October 14, 2011

Missouri Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $718K From Nursing School

Amy Elaine Phillips, 39, of Republic, Missouri, has pleaded guilty to charges she embezzled $718,000 from the St. John’s Mercy Health Care Systems and the College of  Nursing where she had been employed as an administrative assistant with bookkeeping responsibilities.  According to authorities, over a three year period, from 2004 through 2007, Phillips intercepted checks payable to the college and deposited them into her own accounts.  After this scheme was halted by her bank, which objected to depositing checks that did not list her as the payee, Phillips began withdrawing funds from the Student Nurses Association bank account on days when she made student deposits.  This latter scheme lasted another two years, from 2007 through 2009, whereby she stole more than $657,000.  Phillips has also plead guilty to tax evasion for income not reported between 2004 and 2008.  In the plea agreement, Phillips has agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $717,999, in addition to back taxes of $115,117 plus interest, to the IRS.  She faces up to 15 years in prison.

Read the story here and here.

Hat tip: FraudTalk reader Joe.

Update (2/17/12): Phillips has been sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $718,000 in restitution, plus $115,000 in back taxes and interest to the IRS. 

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