Health center CEO pleads guilty to submitting false grant documents

Cheryl Ann White, the former CEO of a network of health facilities in Southeast Missouri, pleaded guilty to conspiring to create and submit numerous false documents related to the organization, the United States Attorney's office of the Eastern District of Missouri announced in a news release Tuesday morning.

White, 56, of New Madrid, Mo., pleaded guilty to one felony count of conspiracy, which could result in a maximum sentence of five years in prison or fines up to $250,000.

According to the release, White admitted that Southeast Missouri Health Network Inc. submitted annual grant reports for 2008 through 2012 and as many as 40 applications that contained false information, including information about the number of patients needing services and the number of services provided by the organization.

White also admitted to using the organization's funds to pay for a roof on a building she owned; selling another building and a trailer to the organization while concealing her ownership; and using the organization's funds to purchase gifts for a relative and "some of her co-conspirators," according to the release. The court also stated in the release that White wrote checks to employees, who then gave the cash to her.

White, according to the court's news release, also admitted to awarding contracts to the same "co-conspirator" for construction contracts, although seven of the buildings he constructed or renovated had leaking roofs or cracked slabs. White admitted to receiving payments from the "co-conspirator," which was later disguised as a loan.

The case was investigated by four law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.

In December, SEMO Health Network announced that White was no longer working for the organization. White had served as the chief executive officer for the federally funded community health program since November 2003.

A native of Matthews, Mo., White received her bachelor of science degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University as well as a minor in computer science and middle school science. She was an instructor for 19 years in the Risco R-2 School District.

White also became certified as a proposal writer for foundation and government funding. In 2002 she was named the chief operations officer for SEMO Health Network to oversee various programs.

SEMO Health Network has clinics in the Southeast Missouri towns of Benton, Bernie, Kennett, Matthews, New Madrid, Portageville and Sikeston. On its website, the organization claims its mission is to provide quality care in medically underserved rural communities and to provide services regardless of patients' ability to pay.

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