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Audit: Worker stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from Iowa hospital

A woman is accused of stealing more than a quarter-million dollars worth of equipment and reimbursements from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.
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A former worker is accused of stealing more than a quarter-million dollars worth of equipment and reimbursements from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. 

Jennifer Whitmore-Meier oversaw information technology services for the orthopaedics and rehabilitation department at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics for nearly a decade, from December 2002 to January 2012. 

A 206-page report issued by the Iowa State Auditor’s office concluded Whitmore-Meier took more than $203,000 worth of equipment bought by the department and sold it on eBay for about $9,800.

Whitmore-Meier is also accused of charging tens of thousands of dollars to her department credit card to ship the stolen merchandise to purchasers. 

She’s also accused of pocketing rebates on the purchases of the stolen equipment, and of pocketing refunds when she returned nearly $900 worth of items bought with the department’s money.

The state audit report says Whitmore-Meier bought Xbox games, iPods, cameras and hundreds of other items with her university credit card. 

She’s also accused of requesting reimbursement for personal travel by claiming those costs were for travel to professional conferences.  In one instance, her cell phone records showed she was in Hawaii when she claimed to be attending a professional conference in New Orleans.

Her alleged actions may have been unnoticed at times, since the audit also shows she received more than $20,000 in bonuses for exceptional performance of her job.

The audit report has reportedly been turned over to the Johnson County, Iowa attorney’s office and to the Iowa Attorney General. 

Read the full report on the State Auditor’s website – click here.

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