Hospital COO accused of fake invoices and $1 million in kickbacks

Financial misconduct allegations involving a hospital charity have drawn attention to how money intended for healthcare fundraising can be diverted through seemingly routine business payments. In Miami, federal prosecutors have accused a former senior executive of Jackson Health Foundation of approving millions of dollars in invoices for goods and services that were never supplied. The alleged scheme involved a Georgia-based audiovisual company, a merchandise supplier and payments that investigators say benefited the executive personally. As reported by The Department of Justice, among the purchases described in the indictment were luxury items from Louis Vuitton and Gucci, Apple products and a rose-gold golf cart delivered to her home in Florida.Former hospital charity COO accused of taking more than $1 million in kickbacksCharmaine Gatlin, 52, who served as chief operating officer of Jackson Health Foundation between 2014 and 2024, was charged in a federal indictment unsealed on 21 May 2025. Prosecutors allege that she used her position to arrange payments through false invoices and received more than $1 million in kickbacks from a business vendor.The foundation is the fundraising organisation associated with Jackson Health System, a nonprofit hospital network serving Miami-Dade County in Florida. Its work involves collecting philanthropic contributions to support the healthcare system, which also receives funding through sales taxes, federal programmes and other sources.Gatlin held a senior operational position…