Burke woman admits to theft

BURKE — After months of investigation and swirling rumors, a Dallas woman pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling more than $290,000 from a Burke hospital and pharmacy.

According to U.S. Attorney Marty Jackley, Rebecca Jo Jacobsen has admitted to embezzling $244,773.52 from Community Memorial Hospital as well as $46,752.82 from the Community Pharmacy between Jan. 1, 2000, and Sept. 30, 2008.

After her plea was entered, United States District Court Judge Charles Kornmann ordered a presentence investigation. Jacobsen is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 31.

The maximum penalty for the charge is 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a period of three years of supervised release.

According to information from Jackley, Jacobsen “took checks made out to supposed vendors, then fabricated and altered those checks to make them payable to herself.”

Gregory County Sheriff Charlie Wolf said hospital officials originally discovered a forged check in October. After Jacobsen admitting to forging the initial check, she later admitted to Wolf that she had “forged a bunch of checks.”

In a February, Community Memorial Hospital CEO Jim Frank acknowledged rumors about an investigation into a former employee, but called it a “personnel matter” and would not discuss the matter further. Frank could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

After Gregory County state’s attorney consulted with Jackley’s office, it was decided to let the U.S. Department of Justice handle the case.

“(She) decided there was no sense in us charging her and wasting the taxpayers’ dollars and then going to the feds and having them do it,” Wolf said.

While Jacobsen will be required to pay restitution, Wolf said he believed Jacobsen’s sentence will depend on the amount of restitution she can make before her sentencing date.

“The more she pays up front, the less time she’ll probably get,” Wolf said.

The investigation was conducted by the Gregory County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Koliner.

Tags: news, theft, burke, embezzlement