Norma Galagarza admits to diverting over $600,000 for personal use.

Guilty Plea and Sentencing

Norma Galagarza, a former hospital director from Chalfont, Bucks County, confessed on Monday to embezzling more than $600,000 from a hospital charity account. The guilty plea comes as a result of charges including theft by unlawful taking, theft deception, forgery, access device fraud, and computer trespassing. Galagarza, 68, was sentenced to five years of probation for her actions, despite sentencing guidelines suggesting a term between six to 14 months.

The Unraveling Investigation

The investigation initiated in January 2022 after the board of directors at Doylestown Hospital reported insufficient funds charges on an account they were unaware existed. Galagarza, who retired from her position as director of medical staff in March 2021, managed the account, established by the Medical Executive Committee for charitable purposes.

Dormant Account Rediscovered

The account, known as the Charitable Fund, had ceased to receive monthly statements since 2007, rendering it dormant. However, when the hospital received insufficient funds notices, officials discovered unauthorized activities on the account, including withdrawals and deposits totaling over $55,000 between October 2020 and December 2021.

Unauthorized Transactions Uncovered

Further scrutiny revealed that Galagarza had conducted 896 unauthorized transactions amounting to approximately $604,702 from 2008 to 2021. These funds, intended for charitable donations to the community and employees in need, were instead diverted for personal expenses, according to law enforcement.

Accountability and Restitution

Authorities underscored the significance of organizational oversight, emphasizing that even trusted employees can betray institutions. Deputy District Attorney Marc J. Furber emphasized the importance of systemic controls in preventing such occurrences. Galagarza has since reimbursed the full amount to the Doylestown Hospital Medical Staff.

This case highlights the necessity for stringent financial oversight in all business settings, underscoring the importance of vigilance against potential breaches of trust.

Report a correction or typo

(Source: WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.)

Related Topics:

• Bucks County
• Pennsylvania
• Theft
• Crime
• Sentencing
• Embezzlement
• Hospital

<a href=”https://6abc.com/doylestown-hospitals-former-director-norma-galagarza-pleads-guilty-to-embezzling-over-600k-from-charity-fund/14670696/”>Source</a>