Former custodian accused of stealing thousands from Nashville hospital credit card

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Vanderbilt University Medical Center employee, paid to clean up around the hospital, is accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a hospital credit card.

The former custodian, Sean Michael Patrick Rivas, 21, was arrested on April 22 on two charges of Felony Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card.

According to the arrest affidavit, the first incident took place on February 9 around 7:40 PM.

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The credit card was a business card belonging to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center employee. That credit card was reportedly stored in the employee’s desk in an office that the affidavit said Rivas had access to as a custodian.

The second incident was three days later, on February 12 around 7:58 PM. The same credit card was swiped in the same office.

According to the affidavit, over the course of the two incidents, the card was swiped 10 times on a portable credit card reader for a total of $46,050.

Vanderbilt University Police investigated the crime which was discovered on February 21.

According to the affidavit, police submitted a subpoena to the credit card reader company. That information showed that the reader was registered to Sean Rivas. Information from the subpoena gave “a telephone number, bank account routing number, TN driver’s license, and a live video and picture of the user, Sean Rivas.”

According to the affidavit, the money was sent to Rivas’ personal bank account.

After his arrest, Rivas posts a $40,000 bond. News 2 greeted him at the door.

At first, the 21-year-old denied he was Rivas when we met with him at the door. When asked about the allegations he responded, “I don’t want to answer no questions right now.”

When asked again about the allegations, Rivas said he was not guilty.

• Cordan: “They say you used the card 10 times for $46,000, is that untrue?”
• Rivas: “That is untrue.”
• Cordan: “Did you use the card at all?”
• Rivas: “Nope.”
• Cordan: “Did you work at Vanderbilt in the capacity of a cleaning man?”
• Rivas: “I did.”
• Cordan: “So did they get the wrong guy?”
• Rivas: “They did, it is not me.”
• Cordan: “What would you say to me in your defense?”
• Rivas: “I have nothing to say.”
• Cordan: “Are you guilty?”
• Rivas: “I am not guilty.”

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Vanderbilt University Medical Center officials had no response to the arrest.

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