A woman was arrested for allegedly stealing $29,508 while working as a dental practice manager in Clearwater, Fla., NBC affiliate WFLA reported June 21.
Belinda Colovin worked as an office manager at the practice from May 11, 2020, to August 2021, according to Clearwater police.
Without authorization, Ms. Colovin allegedly offered discounts to patients who paid in cash and contacted 23 patients to do so, according to an affidavit.
A patient on July 27 paid $8,000 in cash for a service that Ms. Colovin allegedly documented as only $3,750 in the practice management software. She resigned after she was asked about the missing money, police said.
An audit found $29,508 missing during Ms. Colovin's time at the practice, WFLA reported. The audit also found changes in patient ledgers to conceal the alleged theft.
Ms. Colovin was the only person who was given cash payments and the money should have been entered into the business account, according to police. More than $16,000 was deposited into Ms. Colovin's personal account a few days after the cash was taken from the patients, according to the affidavit.
She was charged with scheme to defraud.