Crime & Safety

FBI: East Whiteland Man Stole $1.7M From CHOP

Roosevelt Hairston Jr. worked as an executive vice president at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced charges Thursday against Roosevelt Hairston Jr., of East Whiteland Township, alleging that he embezzled $1.7 million from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Hairston served as general counsel and executive vice president at CHOP before he was fired in February, after an internal investigation uncovered fiscal irregularities. Prosecutors allege that Hairston used the money to live a "lavish lifestyle" that included a luxury yacht and a captain to maintain it.

According to the FBI press release:

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The information alleges that, between 1999 and February 14, 2011, Hairston used dozens of false invoices he created for shell companies to steal from CHOP. Hairston was able to steal for so long because he occupied a position of trust at the hospital and because he engaged in extensive efforts to conceal and prolong the scheme.

For example, when CHOP accounting personnel questioned some of the bogus invoices Hairston submitted, Hairston stole the identity of a long-time friend and created bogus e-mail addresses in the name of his friend. Hairston then sent e-mail messages to CHOP personnel to make it appear that the invoices were real.

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After firing Hairston in February, the hospital had turned the case over to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and it was further investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. Read the hospital's February statement here.


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