Ex-LA Hospital Worker Admits Stealing Patient Info

A former Los Angeles hospital employee has admitted stealing information about patients to fraudulently bill insurance companies.

James Allen Wilson, who worked in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s billing department, pleaded guilty to identity theft, insurance fraud, grand theft and not paying his income taxes. He was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison.

Wilson stole information about more than 1,000 Los Angeles Unified School District employees and billed insurance companies for $1.3 million in treatments that were never provided to a dozen patients. He worked at the center from 2003-2007.

He was ordered to pay $354,000 in restitution to the victims and $62,000 in back taxes and penalties to the state.