PRINCETON: Hospital worker sentenced to 4 years for embezzling

By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
   A former administrator at Princeton Health Care Systems was sentenced Friday to four years in state prison for embezzling more than $150,000.
   Jhoanna L. Engelhardt-Fullar was contrite as she appeared before Superior Court Judge Gerald J. Council for sentencing.
   The 42-year-old mother of two said she was sorry for what she had done, a roughly 20-month-long theft that authorities said her ex-employer had discovered. Aside from going to prison, she will have to make partial restitution of $72,000, paid in monthly installments of $500 for the next 12 years.
   Ms. Engelhardt-Fullar, the former director of medical staff services, was accused in May of issuing fraudulent checks to herself, moving funds to her credit cards and misusing a medical staff Visa debit card, all out of a medical staff account. Authorities claimed she had made more than 130 “unauthorized purchases” with the debit card to buy groceries, make payments on a time-share and pay for other personal needs.
   She was able to get away with it for a while. Assistant prosecutor James Scott, the head of the Prosecutor’s Office economic crime unit, said the offenses occurred between April 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2011.
   The Prosecutor’s Office has said Princeton Health Care Systems alerted authorities in February, the same month she was fired. Borough police and the Prosecutor’s Office investigated, ultimately charging the Burlington woman with second-degree theft.
   Court records showed that the Air Force veteran had no other criminal record.
   The judge sentenced her according to the terms of a plea bargain she had accepted Oct.25. She might be able to get out of prison sooner rather than have to serve the full four-year sentence, however.
   She will be parole eligible in about 10 to 11 months. In addition, the judge recommended her for the Intensive Supervisory Program, which is designed for low-level offenders and could have her out of her prison in even less time if she is accepted to a program that has strict monitoring conditions.
   When she pleaded guilty, Ms. Engelhardt-Fullar only had to admit the theft was greater than $75,000. But as part of a consent order she signed, she has acknowledged it was in excess of $150,000, Mr. Clark said. The Prosecutor’s Office has put the total around $186,000.
   Authorities opted not to seek potential state tax evasion charges, noting that the highest offense the state charges for that offense is a third-degree crime.
   Mr. Scott said the $72,000 restitution amount was negotiated between his office, the hospital and Ms. Engelhardt-Fullar.
   Eric Broadway, her attorney, said Friday that this was the “proper” disposition of the matter. He said that Ms. Engelhardt-Fullar is receiving family support for the care of her children.
   ”It’s never easy to go to jail,” he said.
   ”It took its course through the system, and that’s what the system’s for,” Borough police Capt. Nicholas K. Sutter said, responding to Friday’s sentencing.
   ”We would like to thank the Mercer County Prosecutors Office Economic Crimes Unit for their work in bringing this matter to closure,” Princeton Health Care Systems said in a statement Friday.