Bethesda Hospital Executive Steals Over $390K From Medical Association

WASHINGTON, DC — A former hospital executive and Bethesda resident pled guilty to stealing over $390,000 from an association of medical professionals, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.

Deborah Morrison, of Bethesda, worked for Providence Hospital in DC from 1978 to 2016, with much of her career in executive positions, Phillips said. Since at least 2001, Morrison oversaw the bank accounts of the Providence Hospital Medical Staff, an association comprised of medical professionals at the facility.

From December 2009 until December 2015, Morrison wrote approximately 140 checks, totaling $391,600, from one of the association’s bank accounts containing dues payments, according to the statement of offense.

She endorsed the front of the checks with a signature stamp of a former President of the Medical Staff who no longer worked at Providence Hospital and deposited all of the checks into her personal bank account.

Morrison pled guilty to transportation of money taken by fraud, which carries a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison and the potential for financial penalties. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Morrison faces a likely range of 24 to 30 months in prison and a fine of up to $95,000, Phillips said.

As part of her plea, Morrison agreed to pay $391,600 in restitution and an identical amount in a forfeiture money judgment. She is to be sentenced on Oct. 2.

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