Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Sandra Gilbert sentenced to 10 years in prison

OLYMPIA – A woman who pleaded guilty to multiple counts related to her theft of nearly $60,000 from residents of a Raymond nursing home has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars.

Assistant Attorney General Dawn Cortez said, “Sandra Gilbert took advantage of her position at an adult care facility to steal from those who have almost nothing left, taking away their money and their sense of security. This tough sentence sends a strong message – that our state’s justice system won’t tolerate the abuse of our most vulnerable citizens.”

In October, Gilbert pleaded guilty to nine counts of forgery, seven counts of first-degree theft and two counts of first-degree identity theft. In her role as business office manager at Willapa Harbor Care Center Gilbert forged dozens of checks, depositing tens of thousands of dollars into her own bank accounts. The forged checks bore the counterfeit signatures of her fellow employees.

Prosecutors revealed Thursday in Pacific County Superior Court that Gilbert did not inform her employers about prior convictions for burglary, embezzlement and forgery crimes committed in other states. A background check run by the facility failed to discover those convictions.

The Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of fraud committed by Medicaid providers. In addition, the unit coordinates with local law enforcement to investigate and prosecute abuse and neglect involving vulnerable adults residing in Medicaid-funded facilities.

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Contacts:

Janelle Guthrie, AGO Communications Director, (360) 586-0725

 

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