An attorney who worked as a vice president and COO of an Illinois hospital and pleaded guilty to a federal mail fraud charge has been sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison.
Robert Spadoni, 59, the former COO of Rush Oak Park (Ill.) Hospital, was also ordered to pay restitution to the hospital, according to a May 1 Justice Department news release.
The sentencing came months after Mr. Spadoni pleaded guilty to his involvement in what prosecutors said was a fraud scheme in which he obtained approximately $622,500 in payments from the hospital.
Mr. Spadoni admitted in his plea agreement that from 2013 to 2021, he approved the hospital's payment of invoices to Medical Education Solutions, a vendor company he established that purportedly provided administrative support and compliance services, according to the Justice Department.
In actuality, Mr. Spadoni opened a bank account for Medical Education Solutions in a family member's name, and the hospital's payments were put into the account, prosecutors said. All the while, he paid $1,500 monthly in cash to another hospital employee to provide the administrative and compliance services.
As a result of the fraud scheme, Mr. Spadoni obtained approximately $622,500 in payments from the hospital, which was used for things like restaurant meals and hotel stays, the plea agreement states, according to the Justice Department. Mr. Spadoni also transferred $225,805 into a 401(k) account he controlled.
Mr. Spadoni faced up to 20 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.
"Rush is deeply appreciative of the court for imposing this sentence and bringing this matter to close," a statement from the health system shared with Becker's said.
"From the outset, Rush Oak Park Hospital has sought full restitution and forfeiture of Robert Spadoni's ill-gotten gains. The recovery of these funds is incredibly important so that we can reinfuse these dollars back into our hospital to deliver the excellent care the Village of Oak Park, the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois have come to expect from Rush."
Rush Oak Park Hospital is part of Chicago-based Rush, which also comprises Rush University and Rush University Medical Center, Aurora, Ill.-based Rush Copley Medical Center, as well as a provider network and numerous outpatient care facilities.
pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to a federal fraud charge.