Former Vice President of University Medical Center in Lubbock Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Mail Fraud

LUBBOCK, TX—Robert Gregory Bruce, aka Greg Bruce, 46, appeared in federal court today before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings and pleaded guilty to an information charging one count of mail fraud and aiding abetting, stemming from a fraud scheme he ran while he served as a vice president of University Medical Center (UMC) in Lubbock. Bruce, a resident of Lubbock, will remain on bond. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. Judge Cummings ordered a presentencing investigative report with a sentencing date to be set upon the completion of that report.

According to documents filed in the case, beginning in June 2007 and continuing to December 12, 2011, Bruce conspired with Rudolph 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.

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

The case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda R. Burch is in charge of the prosecution.