Two employees of a Morgantown, W.V., medical facility, including its former chief operating officer, have been charged with stealing more than $650,000 in assets and funds.
According to a March 14 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of West Virginia, Francis Ortiz, 48, of Vacaville, Calif., and James Brooks Mersing, 35, of Morgantown, W.V., were indicted for defrauding Wedgewood Physicians Inc.
“White-collar crime costs the United States hundreds of billions of dollars each year,” U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said in the release. “The Department of Justice will continue to pursue white-collar wrongdoers and hold them accountable for their misconduct.”
Ortiz is the former Wedgewood COO and Mersing is a former physician, according to the release. Ortiz reportedly diverted funds for three years for his own benefit or to benefit Mersing. Ortiz allegedly used funds for personal travel, home improvements and purchases from websites like Amazon.
He also allegedly allowed for unauthorized bonuses to be paid to Mersing, who would then return some of the funds to Ortiz, the release reported.
Ortiz faces 31 counts of bank fraud, and Mersing faces 11 counts, according to the release. Each count could result in up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
The case was brought forth by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner and the Federal Bureau of Investigation was responsible for the investigation, the release said. The charges are allegations and the suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
Yahoo News reported Ortiz stole about $650,000 and Mersing stole about $84,397, which was stated in the indictment.
According to Yahoo News, Mersing was scheduled to appear in court for a hearing March 31 in Clarksburg before Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi. The report added Ortiz was recently arrested by the FBI, and his future court dates are pending.
