Update – March 3 at 4:56 p.m.: Due to a source’s error, this report initially indicated a different, incorrect amount for which the suspect is alleged to have embezzled. The report now reflects the true figure. We apologize for the error.
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
A former employee of a Rockingham chiropractor has been arrested and charged with felony embezzlement.
Lesley Shea Altman
Lesley Shea Altman, 26, is alleged to have taken $6,000 since starting employment at Dr. David Arnold’s Long Drive location in February 2014.
Altman was arrested Monday by Rockingham police officers and taken to the Richmond County Jail for processing.
Katherine Arnold, business co-owner, was reached Tuesday evening and provided additional information. Arnold said the $6,000 figure represents “a sampling of what she allegedly did and how she allegedly did it, which was enough for an arrest.”
The actual amount of money missing is closer to $10,000, Arnold said.
“As we comb through all the files, we will be adding to the total amount allegedly stolen over the next few weeks and turning it over to the Rockingham Police Department,” Arnold said.
Arnold emphasized that Altman did not steal any credit card or debit card numbers. Arnold accused her instead of running the cards through the office terminal and allegedly posting them in the software as paid.
According to Arnold, she then allegedly “voided that same payment in our HIPAA-compliant software, which is no way connected to any outside entity, and gave that person a credit/discount for the amount of the payment. She then allegedly applied that payment to patients that paid cash for copays of full visit and took the cash.”
“She also allegedly took cash payments and failed to record them in our system,” Arnold said. “At the end of the day, payments balanced because of the credits she applied. She took cash only by manipulation of our software.”
Arnold noted that all accusations are just that, and was confident the facts would be resolved in court.
