The U.S. Attorney's Office has charged a former University of Pennsylvania Medical Center official with the embezzlement of close to $300,000 in funds from the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Catherine Baker was charged with a count of mail fraud by the office. Baker was once HUP's Orthopedic Surgery Department executive administrative director.
"We are very gratified to learn that she has been charged criminally, and we will aggressively seek restitution," Penn Health System spokeswoman Rebecca Harmon said.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Baker allegedly wrote 25 checks worth $271,064 to herself during her two-plus years working at the Penn Medical Center.
"I have read the papers, and we will respond to them when called upon," Baker's attorney Robert Welsh Jr. said of the charges. "I haven't had a chance to discuss it with [my client], but we'll respond in due course."
According to the Inquirer, Baker allegedly requested in June of 1999 that PNC Bank alter an account's mailing address, and that she then wrote 10 checks, worth $42,100, to herself.
The newspaper also reported that Baker allegedly wrote 15 more checks, worth $228,964 and on a Mellon Bank for Orthopedic Surgery, Clinical Practices, account, to herself from the summer of 2000 until the winter of 2001.
Baker then allegedly manipulated paperwork in an effort to hide the alleged actions, reported the newspaper.
According to the Inquirer, Baker was thought to have waived a grand jury indictment -- an act that usually precedes a guilty plea. Welsh, however, indicated otherwise.
"She hasn't waived anything," he said. "It looks like [she will], but she hasn't waived anything."
Formerly the Hershey Medical Center's administration and finance director, Baker started at Penn in August of 1998.
Evidence of possible embezzlement was not discovered until after Baker left her job in February of 2001.
"After her resignation, we did an internal audit and found she had seriously abused her position of responsibility and embezzled a significant amount of money," Harmon said.
After the medical center discovered the missing funds, a member of the Penn Police Department brought these findings to the attention of federal authorities, and a separate investigation was conducted by the FBI.
"Penn Police Detective Jane Curry started the investigation and did a really nice job and a lot of work in the beginning before handing the case over to the FBI," Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush said.
In addition to her indictment, reported the Inquirer, the court is being asked to make Baker turn over items, such as cash, two cars and several pieces of jewelry, allegedly acquired in relation to any incidents.
Though a trial date has not been set, investigations are currently underway to look into Baker's activities at the Hershey Medical Center, according to the Inquirer.
