Former COO of Oak Park hospital sentenced to federal prison for embezzling funds

CHICAGO — The former Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Rush Oak Park Hospital, who pleaded guilty in January to defrauding the healthcare facility , was sentenced to federal prison on Tuesday.

Robert Spadoni was sentenced to a year and a half in prison after he pleaded guilty to federal fraud for illegally pocketing more than $620,000 in hospital funds. In addition to his sentence, Spadoni must pay $622,500 in restitution.

Spadoni, 59, of Darien, was an attorney who worked as a Vice President and COO of the Rush Oak Park Hospital from 2013 to 2021. During that time, prosecutors alleged that Spadoni approved the hospital’s payment of invoices to a vendor company, Medical Education Solutions, Inc., which provided administrative support and compliance services. However, Spadoni established the vendor company to execute the scheme.

Prosecutors added that Spadoni concealed the scheme by paying another hospital employee $1,500 a month in cash to provide administrative and compliance services.

The former Rush Oak Park Hospital COO admitted using the money for his benefit, including restaurant meals and hotel stays, and transferring $225,805 into his 401(k) account.

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