Michele M. Rose, Wire Fraud, Indiana 2023

Published August 22, 2024

Former Hospital Employee Sentenced to Prison for Embezzlement

EVANSVILLE, IN - Michele M. Rose, 62, of Jasper, Indiana, has been sentenced to a year and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to five counts of wire fraud. Rose was also ordered to pay $153,769 in restitution.

The embezzlement occurred between March 2011 and December 2020, during which time Rose, a former Medical Staff Coordinator at a nonprofit healthcare organization, wrote fraudulent checks to herself from the medical staff checking account. Rose lied to individuals with signature authority, telling them the checks were for legitimate business expenses, when in fact she was using the money for personal living expenses.

According to court documents, Rose had various responsibilities, including overseeing the medical staff checking account and preparing a monthly financial report of that checking account. However, she did not account for the fraudulent checks in the monthly financial reports she prepared for her management. Over nearly a decade, Rose embezzled $153,769 from the medical staff fund, which would have otherwise been donated to local community groups, including scholarships, food banks, and humane societies, as well as sponsoring events for local students.

“For nearly a decade, this woman stole from community-minded professionals who trusted her, lining her pockets at the expense of the Jasper community groups the doctors intended to support,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Embezzlement and fraud by trusted insiders can have devastating effects on businesses and ordinary people. That’s why our office will continue to prioritize federal prosecution of economic crimes.”

The U.S. Secret Service, Jasper Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District of Indiana investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young.

U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case.

Rose will begin serving her prison sentence immediately.

Defendant Information:

Michele M. Rose, 62, of Jasper, Indiana.

Criminal Charges:

Five counts of wire fraud.

City and State:

EVANSVILLE, INDIANA.

Exact Date:

Not mentioned in the source.

Sentence or Outcome:

Year and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay $153,769 in restitution.