Former Physician’s Office Employee Sentenced in Fraud Scheme

Memphis, TN – Gloria Harris, 56, of Memphis was sentenced to serve 64 months in federal prison on bank fraud charges arising from her theft of approximately $292,500 from her former employer, United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced today.

Harris, a former data entry clerk for Crescent Medical Corporation, was indicted by a federal grand jury in December of last year, and pled guilty in April to allegations that she fraudulently obtained $292,500 between January 2016 and March 2017. The indictment alleged that Harris stole checks payable to Crescent and deposited them to bank accounts at Trustmark Bank and Suntrust Bank which she had fraudulently opened in the name of Crescent without the knowledge of Crescent’s owner, Dr. Ashan Kathawala.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fraudulent schemes and crimes of dishonesty do not pay, and will be exposed. We are pleased to achieve justice for the victim in this case."

In addition to her prison sentence, United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman ordered Harris to serve a term of five years supervised release following her release from custody and to pay restitution in the total amount of $292,500 to Trustmark, Suntrust and Crescent.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service Economic Crimes Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.