A former New Hampshire resident has been sentenced for defrauding her previous employer, Bedford Women's Care Associates (BWCA), out of more than $140,000. Elizabeth Morse, 56, now residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, received a 27-month federal prison sentence along with two years of supervised release. Additionally, she has been ordered to pay restitution amounting to $168,311.40.
U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliot delivered the sentence following Morse's guilty plea to wire fraud on November 26, 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack commented on the case: “The defendant’s crime was a significant factor in the closure of the medical practice in early 2023, which had widespread ramifications on many individuals, including not only the medical partners but also their former employees.” He further noted that while it is impossible to fully rectify the situation for the victims, "the court’s sentence today is a measure of justice reflecting the harm her crime caused others.”
Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division stated: “Elizabeth Morse betrayed the trust of the medical practice she worked for when she manipulated its payroll to divert tens of thousands of dollars for herself." Cohen emphasized that this case highlights how "the FBI will diligently investigate and bring to justice anyone engaged in such blatant financial fraud.”
Court documents revealed that Morse had been an employee at BWCA—a Bedford-based medical group specializing in Obstetrics & Gynecology—until its closure in early 2023. She became BWCA's office manager in 2020 and managed payroll processing through a third-party service provider. During this time, Morse altered payroll entries to increase her salary beyond what she was entitled to receive over approximately three years.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
