Columbus Regional Health Employees Sentenced For Wire Fraud & Tax Evasion

United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, G. F. “Pete” Peterman, III, announces that Carol Adcock, age 57, was sentenced to serve 15 months and Barbara McFerrin, age 55, was sentenced to serve 33 months in federal prison for wire fraud and tax evasion. The sentences were handed down by Chief United States District Court Judge Clay D. Land in Columbus, Georgia, on August 22, 2017.

Ms. Adcock and Ms. McFerrin were employees at Columbus Regional Health in Columbus, Georgia. As the accounts payable manager, Ms. Adcock was responsible for paying all invoices and making entries into the general ledger. Ms. McFerrin also had access to the general ledger as director of corporate finance. Both individuals had hospital-issued credit cards. Employees were not permitted to use company cards for personal use. In 2011, Columbus Regional switched credit card companies and employees were required to surrender their old card. However, Ms. McFerrin and Ms. Adcock kept their cards and began to make unauthorized purchases and using the cards for their personal benefit. From 2011 to 2014, Ms. McFerrin and Ms. Adcock combined spent approximately $1.2 million on car, pet, and pool expenses, as well as utility expenses, school expenses, hotels or rental properties, and medical expenses They also made payments to the United States Treasury to satisfy personal income tax obligations.

"These individuals violated the trust of their former employer and benefited financially. The judgement against Adcock and McFerrin should serve as an example to those who decided to embezzle from their employer. Employers give their employees a lot of trust, when you take advantage of that trust, there will be consequences," IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey said.

“These two individuals, who were respected and trusted enough by their employer to have been promoted to these high positions of responsibility and authority, unfortunately decided to abuse that trust and misuse that responsibility and authority to steal from that very same employer. They certainly deserve the sentences imposed on them as the result,” said United States Attorney Peterman.

In addition to her prison sentence, Ms. Adcock will be required to pay restitution in the amount of $246,829.26 and Ms. McFerrin will be required to pay restitution in the amount of $662,105.81.

This case was investigated by the Columbus Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the case for the United States.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 752-3511.