Former Jackson Madison County Health Department Employee Indicted for Theft
An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has resulted in the indictment of Rachel Thomas, a former program director for the Jackson Madison County Regional Health Department. The investigation began after Health Department officials reported questionable inventory return transactions.
Investigators determined that Thomas purchased a variety of items for the TennCare Kids program, and then improperly returned the items for cash and gift cards. Thomas completed 33 return transactions, resulting in her receiving $1,332.84 that she kept for personal gain.
Thomas admitted to investigators that she returned items purchased with TennCare Kids program funds without the Health Department’s permission, and she received a personal gain from some of those refunds.
It should be noted that Thomas has returned $149.09, leaving an outstanding balance of $1,183.75 owed to the Health Department. On September 10, 2018, Thomas’ employment with the Health Department was terminated.
In April 2019, Rachel Thomas was indicted by the Madison County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $1,000 and one count of official misconduct.
“A reliable inventory policy that documents how items are used would help the Jackson Madison Health Department prevent this from happening again,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “I am pleased to note that management is working to correct this issue.”
To view the investigative report, go to: https://comptroller.tn.gov/office-functions/investigations/find.html
If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of public money in Tennessee, call the Comptroller’s toll-free hotline at 800.232.5454, or file a report online at: www.comptroller.tn.gov/hotline. Follow us on twitter: @TNCOT
Media contact: John Dunn, Director of Communications, 615.401.7755 or john.dunn@cot.tn.gov
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