Wheaton Franciscan employee accused of embezzling $1 million

GLENDALE (WITI) -- An employee in the finance department of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Glendale has been accused of embezzling $1 million over the last decade.

Managers at the facility discovered the massive cover up while looking through payroll records a few weeks ago.

"Our investigation determined the payroll specialist had been manipulating accounts over a nine-year period," said Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Spokesperson Anne Ballentine.

The 49-year-old female employee allegedly added vacation and other paid days off to random employee's accounts then transferred those funds into her personal account, quickly deleting any record of the transaction.

"We are told by internal and external auditors that this was a very sophisticated scheme. Obviously there was a loop-hole in our internal controls," said Ballentine.

The loop-hole has since been corrected.

The 848 workers who had been targeted over the years could face potential tax impacts. Wheaton Franciscan estimates a total loss of more than $1 million.

Supervisors confronted the woman behind the crime, who allegedly confessed her actions before being fired.

"We're a faith-based organization and integrity is one of our key values. It's a breach of trust and upsetting," said Ballentine. "To the extent we're a non-profit organization and we reinvest any proceeds into the community. It affects us all."

The woman was arrested on Thursday, August 1st, however the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office has yet to file any charges.