Windsor

Former Hôtel-Dieu Grace volunteer association manager charged with defrauding organization out of $60K

A former Hôtel-Dieu Grace volunteer association manager has been charged with defrauding the hospital's volunteer association out of more than $60,000. 

Fraud found to have taken place over 5-year period, Windsor police say

A sign reads Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare.
Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare says the hospital wasn't impacted by the fraud case as its finances are separate from the volunteer association. Hospital CEO Bill Marra says the association no longer exists. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)

A former Hôtel-Dieu Grace volunteer association manager has been charged with defrauding the hospital's volunteer association out of more than $60,000. 

In a news release Monday, Windsor, Ont., police said their financial crimes unit started investigating in February 2023 after being notified of a possible fraud.

Police said they found $62,169 that was meant to go to the hospital's volunteer association was actually deposited into the 48-year-old suspect's personal bank account. 

Police said the fraud took place from November 2015 to September 2020. 

The 48-year-old woman, who police say managed the hospital's volunteer association, has been charged with fraud over $5,000.

The charges have not been tested in court.

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare CEO Bill Marra said in a statement Monday that the hospital is aware of the fraud charges. 

It said the volunteer association no longer exists. 

"This did not in any way impact hospital finances as the volunteer association was a separate entity," Marra said, adding that since the issue is before the courts, the hospital won't be commenting further. 

This is the latest in a series of frauds reported against organizations in the region this month. 

On Feb. 14, Windsor police said the former president of the South Asian Centre of Windsor was charged with defrauding the organization out of more than $360,000. 

On Feb. 22, Chatham-Kent police charged a former United Way employee with defrauding the organization of more than $300,000.