Pike woman arrested for hospital fraud

GOSHEN, N.Y. — Federal prosecutors have charged a Pennsylvania woman with wire fraud for allegedly stealing $65,000 over four years from a local hospital, Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputy Sheriff Sergeant Laurence Cottone said Beverly Golembewski, 51, of Dingman's Ferry in Pike County, had worked in the hospital’s billing office, which gave her access to checks. She stole 130 checks, he said.

Police did not identify the hospital, but St. Anthony’s Hospital spokeswoman Deborah Marshall acknowledged that Golembewski had been an employee.

The thefts were detected by the hospital during an internal audit, which alerted authorities. She has been fired from her job, Marshall said.

Golembewski was arrested Thursday, Dec. 5, from her home at 113 Lakeview Drive after a year-long investigation by the sheriff’s office, the U.S. Postal Inspector and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

She was brought to U.S. District Court in White Plains before U.S. Magistrate Linda Smith. She was released on a personal bond of $50,000.

She has a return court date of Dec. 31.