A local Jupiter doctor, Virginia C. Phipps, is facing charges for allegedly stealing from a business where she was employed as a medical director. Phipps, the owner of Phipps Health and Wellness, is accused by the Jupiter Police Department of making unauthorized transactions worth approximately $1,033 from Transformations Esthetics & Wellness's bank account.
According to CBS12, the business owner discovered transactions she did not approve of, which were made out to Public Storage and utility companies, among others. Christie Shumate, the owner of Transformations Esthetics, was shocked to find out that, Phipps, someone she had entrusted, appeared to be siphoning funds from her business for personal use.
The suspect's alleged fraudulent activities came to light when Shumate noticed discrepancies in her business account's funds. In an interview with WPBF, Shumate said "I was in complete shock, complete shock. So, somebody that I was employing was also stealing from me." Payments appearing on Shumate's account were to service providers such as Verizon Wireless and Florida Power and Light, with which Shumate had no affiliations, prompting her to investigate further.
Following her discovery, Shumate stopped a payment on the last check written to Phipps, who subsequently tried to inquire about the stopped payment. "To my surprise, she contacted me via text and via phone call and even showed up at my office with that check to try to find out why it stopped payment on it after she had stolen from me," Shumate told WPBF. Phipps was later arrested and investigation into her actions led to charges of identity theft, considering the use of Shumate's bank account information to pay Phipps' bills.
Shumate expressed her gratitude for the efforts of the Jupiter Police Department, who ensured the case did not go unresolved before Phipps' alleged planned relocation to Alaska. "She told my assistant and my client who was here at the time, that she was moving to Alaska, and that I don't know why, I don't care why. But since then, another person has come forward and said that she was supposed to be moving there May 1st, Thursday. So, I'm so thankful for Jupiter PD for getting this wrapped up prior to that happening," Shumate shared with WPBF.
