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Melanie Haste, a former West Tennessee Healthcare employee is facing a federal indictment after she allegedly took over $350,000 from the Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, according to multiple news outlets.
Amy Garner, chief compliance and communications officer for West Tennessee Healthcare, told the media that hospital leadership was notified May, 28, that Haste was involved in some alleged misconduct. Garner said leadership began taking immediate investigative action.”
Haste worked as a paralegal for West Tennessee Healthcare from 2003-2008 and then began working in the risk management department until her June 1, 2020 termination.
Media outlets reported the indictment said during Haste’s time as Director of Risk Management, Haste had access to the West Tennessee Healthcare and hospital’s bank accounts.
The indictment says Haste would direct payments from company accounts and insurance proceeds and deposit payments to herself and others. Direct payments were made to credit card accounts of herself and family members, including Haste’s husband, media outlets reported.
The indictment also stated Haste requested a check of $149,987 for what Haste said was to pay insurance premiums for new properties acquired by the company. But, the check was deposited into Haste’s and Haste’s mother’s account at Regions Bank.
Haste also tried to deposit a check for $146,359.53 issued by Nationwide Insurance into her own account as well, media outlets reported.
Haste also requested adjustments to debt owed to West Tennessee Healthcare by her son.
Garner told media that “It is highly distressing to all of us that a long-term trusted employee circumvented controls in order to perpetuate a crime against our non-profit organization.”
Haste is now facing seven counts related to a total of $355,541, which the indictment says she attempted to steal from Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and its insurer.
“If anyone suspects any sort of fraud and abuse against our organization or in our organization, we encourage people to come forward,” Garner told the media. “Use our compliance hotline or any of our other reporting mechanisms, and we continue to try to strengthen our internal controls to ensure that this does not happen again.”
Haste’s lawyer, Daniel Taylor said Haste surrendered on her on volition last week and made a signature bond to comply with the rules of the court.
Haste has been released and Taylor filed a motion for discovery of evidence.
Media outlets reported that if Haste is charged with counts one through seven, Haste could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, a five-year period of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100.