A woman accused of embezzling more than $1 million from Tacoma Orthopaedic Surgeons Inc. has pleaded guilty to criminal charges.
Suzanne Foss, who had been the office manager for Tacoma Orthopaedic for more than 25 years, pleaded guilty Monday to one count of first-degree theft.
Pierce County prosecutors alleged Foss, 64, was writing checks from the office’s main account to pay off credit card bills from expensive vacations and shopping sprees at Nordstrom.
Bank records went back seven years and showed a loss of more than $ 1 million, charging documents state.
The president of the practice discovered the unauthorized checks last year and reported them to Tacoma police. Officers investigated, and charges were filed in July 2010.
Last year, the eight doctors in the practice, which also operates as Gig Harbor Orthopaedic Surgeons and Gig Harbor Ambulatory Surgery Center, won a lawsuit against Foss.
Superior Court Judge Brian Tollefson granted judgments totaling more than $776,590 to the doctors, based on money missing over the past three years, plus fees and interest.
Foss will be eligible for a prison sentence above the standard range because the theft charge she pleaded guilty to has an aggravating factor – that it was a “major economic offense.”
“The offense involved an actual monetary loss substantially greater than typical for … theft in the first degree, that the offense occurred over a lengthy period of time and that she used her position of trust, confidence or fiduciary responsibility to facilitate the commission of the offense,” court documents state.
Foss’ standard sentencing range is 0 to 90 days. According to court documents, prosecutors will seek a sentence of 10 years in prison. Foss’ attorney, Brett Purtzer, said he will argue for a sentence within the standard range.
Foss, who had no prior criminal convictions, also has stipulated that she will be responsible for full restitution. Foss’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4.
Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268
stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/crime
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