FORMER MEDICAL OFFICE BILLING CLERK
CONVICTED OF STEALING MEDICARE CHECKS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Rose Sharon Ettlin, 53, of 4901 York Road, Baltimore, was convicted on February 24, 2003, in Baltimore County Circuit Court for felony theft and forgery of Medicare payment checks and health insurance reimbursement checks belonging to her former employer, Sukh Dev Aujla, M.D., P.A. Sharon Ettlin stole $11, 904.73 from the medical practice while she was employed there as a billing clerk.

The court was advised of the investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office, Criminal Investigations Division, with the assistance of the Maryland State Police, proving that Ettlin stole 32 Medicare payment checks, as well as 19 insurance reimbursement checks issued by CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna Insurance Company during the 13 months she worked for Dr. Aujla. She altered the checks so that she could endorse and cash them.

The Honorable Lawrence R. Daniels sentenced Ettlin on the felony theft conviction to 10 years in the Division of Correction, suspending all but 18 months. Judge Daniels gave Ettlin a 10-year suspended sentence for the forgery conviction, promising to impose the full 10-year sentence if Ettlin failed to abide by the conditions of the 10-year probation ordered by the Court. During probation Ettlin must, among other things, submit to any evaluations and treatment directed by her probation agent and pay restitution in the amount of $11,904.73.

"This case sends a strong message that white collar crimes will be vigorously prosecuted by our office and offenders will be punished," Attorney General Curran said.

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