The former COO of Jackson Health Foundation — the fundraising arm of Miami-based Jackson Health System — has pleaded guilty to embezzling millions of dollars from the nonprofit through false invoices, kickbacks and misuse of donations.
Four things to know:
1. From 2014 through 2024, Charmaine Gatlin, served as COO of Jackson Health Foundation, earning a base salary ranging from $185,000 and $290,000, according to court documents. She admitted to defrauding the foundation of more than $4.3 million by directing funds to herself, her relatives, or unrelated entities, rather than to the foundation or health system.
2. Prosecutors said Ms. Gatlin approved about $2 million in invoices for audiovisual services that were never delivered. In return, the vendor paid her $1 million in kickbacks, some of which went toward her personal credit card bills. She also coached the vendor on how to falsify invoices. The vendor, Yergan Jones, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
3. Ms. Gatlin directed another vendor to purchase luxury goods from Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Apple in exchange for continued business with the foundation. She also misused restricted donations, including approving $55,000 for 10,000 “first aid kits” falsely labeled as trauma burn giveaways. In another instance, she submitted a false invoice to cover the purchase of a golf cart delivered to her home in September 2023, according to the Justice Department.
4. Ms. Gatlin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 25.
“Jackson Health System and Jackson Health Foundation have worked closely with the government throughout the course of this investigation and will continue to support their efforts for the duration of this criminal case,” Carlos Migoya, CEO of Jackson Health System, said in a statement provided to Becker’s. “While stealing from any charity is immoral and inexcusable, stealing from a charity that supports a public hospital system is especially reprehensible because it directly impacts the sick, needy, and most vulnerable. The foundation is focused on moving past this, motivated by its mission to raise money to support patients and programs throughout Jackson Health System.”
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