Former COO of Butler Well being System, husband convicted of $ 1.three million embezzlement

The former chief operating officer of Butler Health System and her husband, a former detective, are going to federal prison for embezzling more than $ 1.3 million from their employer over a period of six years.

The money raised by Stephanie J. Roskovski, 51, and her husband Scott A. Roskovski, 52, was used to fund a lavish lifestyle for their family, as well as a motocross business they own in Butler, Switchback MX LLC, prosecutors said.

“As the representative of the hospital system, she was entrusted with maintaining financial well-being and acting in its best interests,” writes the US Attorney’s Office in a judgment memorandum. “There are no extenuating circumstances here, no financial hardship and no personal tragedies – just greed.”

The couple was sentenced on Thursday by US District Judge William S. Stickman IV.

Stephanie Roskovski will serve 51 months in prison – at the top of the counseling guidelines – followed by three years of supervised release. Although she admitted her conduct on all 42 charges brought against her in federal charges, Stephanie Roskovski pleaded guilty on only two charges – postal fraud and filing a false income tax return.

Scott Roskovski, 52, will serve 30 months in prison – also at the top of his recommended guidelines – followed by a year on parole. He pleaded guilty to having provided false information and a false tax return on a loan application.

According to court records, he spent most of his life in law enforcement, including working as a detective with the Butler County District Attorney’s Office, which focused on white-collar crime, from 1998 to 2018. The government said Scott Roskovski forged credit papers with S&T Bank to raise more than $ 1 million in loan funds to run the motocross business, which the couple bought in 2015.

While misappropriating the money, prosecutors said Stephanie Roskovski used her company credit card to make personal purchases and then presented fake receipts to the health system to create the appearance that the expenses were legitimate. She filed withdrawal requests claiming she used personal funds to pay for business expenses, the government said.

The prosecutors called their fraud “extensive and egregious”.

“A significant portion of the fraudulently obtained funds was used to finance personal luxuries such as extravagant family vacations, tickets to expensive sports and music events, costly home renovations, and large expenses for Switchback MX LLC, Scott’s motocross business Roskovski “, wrote the US prosecutor in their judgment memorandum.

According to prosecutors, the couple spent more than $ 68,000 on a family vacation in Hawaii over the 2016 Christmas holiday.

In her role as chief operating officer, Stephanie Roskovski earned $ 300,000 annually plus bonuses and was the second in command of the health system. In her verdict, her lawyer praised Stephanie Roskovski’s work for the health system, increasing the number of doctors working there, the number of patient beds and the areas it serves.

“The Roskovskis knew what they were doing was wrong,” said Mike Nordwall, FBI Pittsburgh special agent, in a press release. “They embezzled money to fill their own pockets and lead a lavish lifestyle. They are now convicted felons and will be serving a sentence for their crimes. Hopefully today’s condemnation of the community brings some conclusion and sends the message that the FBI takes our responsibility to stop and take it very seriously those who set out to commit fraud. It is simply not tolerated. “

So far, according to the government, the couple has repaid $ 576,752 to the healthcare system. In addition, Stephanie Roskovski’s lawyer said that she also has money from her pension fund.

In his case, Scott Roskovski’s attorney described his role in the crimes as “minor”, which “supports the imposition of the lowest sentence permitted by law”.

He also wrote that nothing in Butler Health System’s internal review “concluded that Scott was aware of or was directly involved in the alleged fraudulent activity.”

Scott Roskovski tried twice to withdraw his admission of guilt, arguing that he lacked the necessary intent to commit the crimes. However, Judge Stickman denied his motions.

Paula Reed Ward is a contributor to Tribune Review. You can contact Paula by email at pward@triblive.com or on Twitter.