FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
September 1, 2015
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
AG ANNOUNCES CONVICTION OF FORMER NURSING HOME
EMPLOYEE FOR THEFT FROM PATIENT TRUST FUND
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange announced the conviction
yesterday of a former business office manager of a Birmingham nursing home for theft
of $4,068 from the facility’s patient trust fund. Gwendolyn Michelle Lacy, 38, of
Birmingham, pleaded guilty to theft of property in the first degree and criminal
computer tampering before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Tommy Nail.
Lacy was sentenced to 16 months, which was suspended, ordered to serve 12
months of probation and to pay full restitution. In addition, she is barred from
employment at any facility that receives Medicaid or other federal healthcare funding.
Lacy admitted that, while employed at East Glen Nursing Home, she used the
nursing home computer to write a total of nine checks, drawn on the accounts of four
different residents, and made the checks payable to associates of hers who were not
affiliated with the nursing home. The associates, in turn, would then cash the checks
for Lacy. The theft was discovered by the nursing home during a routine audit.
Lacy was indicted during the March 2015 term of the Jefferson County grand
jury. Another co-defendant, Clarence Dates, has pleaded guilty to his role in the
scheme. Charges are pending against three additional co-defendants who cannot be
named at this time.
“This defendant was entrusted with the financial care of vulnerable nursing
home residents, and instead she preyed upon them,” said Attorney General Strange. “I
hope her conviction will serve as a deterrent to others.”
Attorney General Strange commended his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for its
skillful handling of this case. He also thanked the management of East Glen Nursing
Home for its diligence in identifying and reporting the incident and for its assistance
during the investigation.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
