A Republic woman yesterday pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $717,000 from St. John's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, according to a news release from Beth Phillips, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
Amy Elaine Phillips, 39, waived her right to a grand jury before U.S. Magistrate Judge James England, admitting theft of programs funds and tax evasion.
From Jan. 15, 2001, to Feb. 26, 2009, the College of Nursing - a division of St. John's operated jointly with Southwest Baptist University - employed Phillips as an administrative assistant, where she was responsible for upkeep of the facilities, staff payroll, budgetary issues and general administrative duties for the dean and program director of the college.
Under federal statutes, Phillips could be subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole, a fine of up to $500,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
Phillips admitted that during that time she used two methods of embezzlement to steal from St. John's and the College of Nursing.
Between 2004-07, Phillips deposited checks intended for St. John's and the College of Nursing into her own personal bank account. She stole nearly $61,000 through the scheme up until 2007, when her bank informed her she would have to be listed as the payee for checks deposited into her account, the release said.
But the largest portion of the theft came in 2007-09, when Phillips stole more than $657,000 from the St. John's Employees' Credit Union Student Nurses Association bank account, a private savings account owned and funded by College of Nursing students, the release said. Phillips deposited checks made payable to St. John's and the College of Nursing into the bank account, and on the same day, withdrew the funds, using them for personal benefit.
Phillips also pleaded guilty to tax evasion, admitting she didn't claim the embezzled funds on federal tax returns 2004-08. In 2008, Phillips claims $26,759 in taxable income, but according to the plea agreement, she actually had roughly $210,064 in income from the embezzlement scheme. During the five-year period, Phillips should have paid $115,117 in income taxes, according to the release.
With the guilty plea, Phillips agreed to pay $717,999 in restitution to St. John's and $115,117 plus interest to the Internal Revenue Service. According to the release, St. John's has reimbursed Southwest Baptist University for funds Phillips embezzled from university activities and functions.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Mohlhenrich and was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service and the Springfield Police Department.
Cora Scott, spokeswoman for St. John's, said in an e-mail that St. John's College of Nursing confirmed the investigation of the misappropriation of funds in March 2009 and fired Phillips.
"The investigation was turned over to authorities, and both St. John’s and Southwest Baptist University cooperated fully with law enforcement," she said. "We are glad the case is reaching a resolution."[[In-content Ad]]
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