Former Director of Anesthesiology School Sent to Prison for Embezzlement

The former director of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Nursing Anesthesiology School was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzling $215,760 from the school, said U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dettelbach.

Paul Blakeley, 59, of Concord Township, was also ordered to pay restitution in the same amount to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation by U.S. District Judge Sara Lioi.

Blakely pleaded guilty to a one-count information in September.

From 2007 to 2013, Blakeley issued approximately 110 checks drawn on accounts maintained by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Nursing Anesthesiology School without authorization, and made them payable to his spouse, and various merchants and credit card issuers. On approximately 50 of the unauthorized checks, Blakeley forged the payee’s endorsement before depositing them into his personal bank account, according to court documents.

The case was being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert W. Kern and Miranda Dugi following an investigation by the Cleveland Clinic Protective Operations and the United States Secret Service.