Crime & Safety

East Whiteland Resident Pleads Guilty to $1.7M CHOP Embezzlement

Roosevelt Hairston served as general counsel at the children's hospital.

Roosevelt Hairston, a former executive at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to stealing $1.7 million from the hospital between 1999 and 2011.

Hairston, a resident of East Whiteland, was accused of drawing up false invoices and diverting money to shell corporations he created, according to the FBI.

Hairston used the funds he stole from CHOP to live a lavish lifestyle, purchasing items such as real estate, a yacht with a captain, and high-end automobiles.

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He faces five to seven years in prison, restitution and up to $1 million in fines.

The Philadelphia Inquirer was in the courtroom:

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Hairston said little during the 45 minute hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence F. Stengel. He admitted to preparing of 126 fake invoices to obtain checks from CHOP that were sent to fake entities Hairston set up to launder the money for his own use. [...]

"He is not as portrayed, a greedy person," said [Hairston's attorney] Klein, "but devoted to the community." Klein said "the bulk of the money sent to finance two failed real estate investments, not a lavish lifestyle."


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