Postal Inspector: Woman steals money from dying patients

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Stealing money from sick, dying patients is just about as low as you can get.

"She just solely had no compassion for the people often times in the fight of their lives, and she just stole these monies for her own selfish gains," said Aren Womack-Baber, US Postal Inspector.

The woman Womack-Baber is talking about is Yvonne Cheatham. Postal inspectors say Cheatham embezzled thousands of dollars from people she was supposed to be helping. "She was the patient financial counselor. She was put in place to assist these patients but she did not," said Womack-Baber.

In fact, authorities say she masterminded an intricate scam to steal money from sick patients seeking financial aid for medical bills. Postal inspectors say she recruited friends and family to have a role in the scheme.

"False documents and claims were submitted indicating individuals the employee recruited were due monies from these national entities who contributed monies to help critically ill patients with mounting medical costs," said Womack-Baber.

After examining some of the false documents, postal inspectors zeroed in on the scam and found the money that was supposed to go to sick patients was gone.

Yvonne Cheatham was charged with mail fraud, which carries a sentence up to 20 years per count. Sentences usually include restitution.