Investigator recounts trips, other perks
A Center Township couple listened Monday in federal court as an investigator recounted the numerous trips they took to concerts by Justin Bieber and U2, two trips to Hawaii and several to Las Vegas and a myriad of other perks from money they stole from the Butler Health System.
Scott and Stephanie Roskovski pleaded guilty May 28, 2020, to various federal charges related to defrauding the health system during Stephanie Roskovski's employment there as chief operating officer.
And on Monday, Postal Inspector David Gealey testified about the evidence collected during his multi-agency fraud investigation into the Roskovskis. The hearing was held in the U.S. District court Pittsburgh in preparation for their sentencings later this week.Scott Roskovski pleaded guilty to federal charges of filing a false loan application and false income tax return.Prosecutors recommended that Judge William Stickman sentence Scott Roskovski to two years to 30 months in prison along with restitution orders to pay back Butler Health System and the Internal Revenue Service.And Stephanie Roskovski pleaded guilty to separate charges related to defrauding the Butler Health System of between $600,000 to $1.3 million during her tenure as the system's chief operating officer from 2011 to 2017.All of Monday was spent with Gealey testifying about the evidence he had gathered against the Roskovskis. Many details of his investigation were outlined in previous court documents, including the original 42-count grand jury indictment filed in April 2019.
Part of this week's hearings will be dedicated to settling just how much the Roskovskis owe in restitution.Prosecutors contend they owe $1.3 million, while the Roskovskis' numerous lawyers argue the figure is nearer to $600,000.Stickman noted that the couple will be sentenced Thursday even if the two sides can't come to an agreement on restitution before the end of the week.On Monday, Gealey noted that Stephanie Roskovski worked for the system for 25 years starting as an intern before being fired in 2017. At the time she was fired by the regional health care system, she was earning $450,000 annually, plus bonuses.Gealey noted that the CEO Ken DeFurio, who was in court Monday, was grooming her to succeed him as CEO.DeFurio is expected to testify later this week, possibly Tuesday.“She rose through the ranks,” Gealey said. “She was highly regarded by her coworkers, very intelligent, respected by all and did a great job.”But all of that is overshadowed by her methods of defrauding money from the health system.One of her main techniques, Gealey said, was to present expense invoices to DeFurio for items such as “physician recruitment” for his signature and approval. Once she obtained his signature, she would alter the dollar amount on the invoice by adding zeros to the end of the figure.By doing this, for example, she was able to turn $500 to $5,000. And she would present the altered invoice to accounting.She would also use the company's credit card for personal use but presented it as business expenses, Gealey testified.He outlined countless examples where Stephanie Roskovski would use hospital funds to pay for family vacations, such as the one they took to Puerto Rico and stayed at a Waldorf Astoria-owned hotel.On Tuesday, the Roskovski lawyers will have a chance to cross-examine Gealey and question his testimony.
