Former Vice President of University Medical Center in Lubbock Sentenced to 51 Months in Federal Prison on Mail Fraud Conviction

LUBBOCK, TX—Robert Gregory Bruce, aka Greg Bruce, 46, of Lubbock, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to serve 51 months in federal prison following his guilty plea in June 2013 to one count of mail fraud and aiding and abetting. In addition, Judge Cummings ordered that Bruce pay $737,492 in restitution to University Medical Center (UMC) and its insurer, advising Bruce, “with bad choices come bad consequences.” Bruce voluntarily allowed the government to seize his retirement account at UMC prior to sentencing; those funds will be used to make restitution. Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

According to documents filed in the case, beginning in June 2007 and continuing to December 12, 2011, Bruce conspired with Rodolpho Reyes Mata, aka Rudy Mata, to submit false and fraudulent invoices for two companies, B.R. Media Monitoring (an alter ego of Bruce) and ATAM Technology Solutions, knowing that the submission of such invoices would cause UMC to pay the fake invoices. Over the course of the conspiracy, Bruce and Mata caused UMC to pay approximately $681,908 on invoices for fake companies that did not provide goods or services as described in the invoices. Bruce used these funds, in part, to pay Mata’s personal living expenses, educational expenses, and travel and entertainment expenses. Mata, 40, of San Antonio, Texas, pleaded guilty in July 2013 to the same offense and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cummings on October 18, 2013.

Bruce also admitted that he used a UMC credit card to make unauthorized payments and purchases of approximately $55,584.

The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Burch prosecuted.