A former CEO has been brought to justice after pleading guilty to a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme. Patrick Alan Bucknum, 55, formerly of Wenatchee, Washington, pleaded guilty on June 24, 2026, to one count of wire fraud in the Eastern District of Washington.
Bucknum was the Chief Executive Office of Community Clinic Network (CCN), a company located in Wenatchee, Washington. CCN managed health care payment contracts for a conglomerate of health care clinics across Washington. The scheme, which began in April 2017, involved Bucknum obtaining funds from CCN’s business bank accounts to invest in stocks, options, and exchange-traded funds.
Bucknum initially intended to keep profits from the investments for himself and return the embezzled funds to CCN. However, due to Bucknum’s poor trades, he lost the majority of the funds invested. As a result, Bucknum embezzled additional funds in an attempt to recover his losses. Between 2017 and 2023, Bucknum embezzled approximately $30,000,000 from CCN to invest, returning approximately $7,000,000 to CCN over that same time frame.
Bucknum also embezzled funds from CCN for personal purchases, including $100,000 to purchase a pickup truck, $77,000 to purchase a Tesla, and $33,000 to purchase a boat. In August 2024, Bucknum embezzled $1,199,000 to purchase precious metal coins. In total, Bucknum caused a loss to CCN of approximately $24,368,427.37.
As part of his plea agreement, Bucknum has agreed to forfeit to the United States the pickup truck, Tesla, boat, and precious metal coins, including coins in gold, silver, and platinum all obtained with embezzled funds. Bucknum is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on September 23, 2026.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy J. Kelley and Frieda K. Zimmerman. The Plea Agreement can be found here.
Bucknum’s actions have left CCN with a significant financial burden. The company’s management will need to work to rebuild trust with their clients and investors. The guilty plea is a significant step towards justice for those affected by Bucknum’s actions.
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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