Man Arrested After Stealing Over $700K From WPAHS

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A man has been arrested after stealing over $700,000 from the West Penn Allegheny Health System since 2007.

According to the criminal complaint, Ira Johnson Jr. was arrested Monday morning.

Johnson is accused of stealing a total of $713,357.04, by diverting electronic funds and direct deposits into his personal bank account.

Bank records show Johnson stole 141 electronic fund transfers totaling $542,114.60 from August 2007 through April 2009.

From May through November of 2011, Johnson allegedly stole 119 insurance reimbursements for WPAHS patients in the amount of $171,242.44.

During that time, he made roughly 110 ATM withdrawals and payments at casinos, which totaled $83,329.98.

Deposited checks ranged from a few dollars to over $20,000.

Johnson made withdrawals of more than $10,000 at local casinos as well as other in West Virginia, Illinois and Atlantic City.

Johnson was the former manager of patient financial services as well as the manager of revenue/cash receipts.

West Penn Allegheny Heath System released a statement Monday afternoon saying since they discovered the actions of their former employee, they have scrutinized and enhanced internal control processes to keep it from happening again.

They also say they carry insurance to protect from these type of criminal acts, and that they plan to file the paperwork for reimbursement.

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