A former hospital employee from Jasper, Indiana, who embezzled over $100,000 intended as donations to community initiatives, has been sentenced to 12 months plus one day in federal prison. Michele M. Rose, 62, was also given one year of supervised release post-incarceration and has been ordered to pay $153,769 in restitution, the Justice Department reported.
In her role at a nonprofit healthcare organization as Medical Staff Coordinator which she began in 1991, Rose had numerous responsibilities, that included managing a checking account for the medical staff and preparing its monthly financial report. This account, primarily filled with physician dues, was intended to support the Jasper community through scholarships, local student events like after-prom celebrations, food banks, and humane societies, with a smaller portion earmarked for operational costs. But from March 2011 through December 2020, Rose siphoned funds for her use.
Rose's scheme involved making fake checks payable to herself, falsely claiming they were reimbursements for legitimate expenses, and hiding these transactions from the financial records shown to management. To get the required signatures, she misled the signers into believing the checks were legitimate. Over nearly ten years, Rose stole $153,769 through this fraud.
"For nearly a decade, this woman stole from community-minded professionals who trusted her, lining her pockets at the expense of the Jasper community groups the doctors intended to support," lamented Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. He further emphasized the dedication to tackling such economic crimes, stating "Embezzlement and fraud by trusted insiders can have devastating effects on businesses and ordinary people. That’s why our office will continue to prioritize federal prosecution of economic crimes. I commend the work of the U.S. Secret Service and the Jasper Police Department, alongside our federal prosecutor, to untangle this web of deceit and hold the defendant accountable for her crimes."
Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott McGuckin of the U.S. Secret Service's Indianapolis Field Office highlighted cooperation as well, "The U.S. Secret Service values our partnership with the Jasper Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office - Southern District of Indiana." He assured continuing dedication towards cases threatening public trust and charitable organizations.
The collaborative investigation by the U.S. Secret Service and Jasper Police Department led to this outcome, with U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young imposing the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller was recognized by U.S. Attorney Myers for his prosecutorial work on the case.
