"She just solely had no compassion:" Woman steals money from sick patients

HUNTSVILLE, Al. (WITI) — It's a scam that outraged even veteran investigators.

A woman who was supposed to help sick and dying patients was instead stealing from them in their desperate moment.

"She just solely had no compassion for the people often times in the fight of their lives and she just stole these monies for her own selfish gains," said U.S. Postal Inspector Karen Womack-Baber.

Postal inspectors say Yvonne Cheatham embezzled thousands of dollars from people she was supposed to be helping.

"She was the patient financial counselor. She was put in place to assist these patients, but she did not," Womack-Baber said.

In fact, authorities say she masterminded an intricate scam to steal from sick patients seeking financial air for medical bills.

Postal inspectors say she recruited friends and family to have a role in the scheme.

"False documents and claims were submitted indicating individuals the employee recruited were due monies from these national entities who contributed monies to help critically ill patients with mounting medical costs," explained Womack-Baber.

After examining some of the false documents, postal inspectors zeroed in on the scam and found the money that was supposed to go to sick patients was gone.

"Just frivolous spending …nothing she needed — just her own selfish needs,” Womack-Baber said.

Cheatham was charged with mail fraud and sentenced to six months in prison.