Newark Man Stole Nearly $1 Million from St. Barnabas

The former manager of the St. Barnabas Medical Center's billing office was sentenced to seven years in prison for stealing nearly $1 million from the medical center over an eight-year period.

Authorities said, Isaiah Wise, 53, of Newark, apparently set up a fake holding company called "Procare" and faudulently deposited checks intended for the hospital into Procare's bank accounts. From 2001 to 2009, he deposited $931,590 in checks that were meant for the hospital.

Officials said the fraud came to light when a widow sent a check to the hospital to pay for medical care provided to her husband before he died.
When the check was returned, it had been altered and written to Procare instead of the hospital. The widow then called the hospital  and coincidentally, was connected to Wise, who refunded the money.

But the widow, who was not identified by authorities, remained concerned and contacted the hospital a second time. The hospital launched an investigation that ultimately led to Wise's arrest.

Wise was originally charged with three counts of fraud, but under a plea deal reached on Friday, he was sentenced to one count of second-degree theft. The case was heard before Judge Peter V. Ryan in state Superior Court in Newark.

Wise was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.

"Nine years is a very long time. Every day was a chance to stop, but this defendant never did and never showed any remorse right up through sentencing," said Assistant Prosecutor Robert Grady, who handled the case.