The Ambulatory Surgery Foundation is out nearly $400,000 thanks to a check forger who worked in the accounting department at ASC headquarters in Alexandria, Va., for 16 months, first as a temp and then as a full-time staff member, according to court records.
Yvette Cecilia Logan pleaded guilty on Dec. 11, 2009, to one felony count of bank fraud and is serving a 57-month prison sentence. From January 2008 through March 2009, Ms. Logan operated a bank fraud scheme in which she prepared 159 checks payable to herself totaling $373,316.15, forged the signature of the maker of those checks and then cashed those checks at local check cashing businesses.
The ASF released a statement saying it hopes to recover the missing funds through general liability insurance and from the bank that released the funds. Court records say Ms. Logan stole $373,316.15 from the ASF. The ASF puts the figure at $251,344. "We have been and are continuing to pursue all avenues available to us to work toward recovery of the funds lost," says the statement. "Please be assured that this occurrence will not affect our ability to continue to provide our members with the same high level of service that we have always delivered. Thank you for your ongoing support."
Ms. Logan came to the Ambulatory Surgery Foundation from a temporary agency in December 2007. She was an ASF employee from March 2008 to March 2009. "They failed to do appropriate background checks," says a source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The ASC Association declined comment on why it hasn't informed its 2,600 members of the embezzlement. "The investigation is still ongoing and we're still trying to recoup the money," says the source. "There's no secrecy, no cover-up, no scandal."
Dan O'Connor
