Phelps embezzles cash from patients at local clinic

A Sallisaw woman is charged with felony embezzlement after reportedly taking cash from patients intended for medical services and OMMA (Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority) applications and not providing the money to her employer, Family Care Clinic in Sallisaw.

Joy R. Phelps, 44, was charged Aug. 12 in Sequoyah County District Court and a warrant was issued for her arrest the same day, according to court records.

The probable cause affidavit in the case states the alleged embezzlement took place between Dec. 1, 2020, and Feb. 18, 2021. Sallisaw Police officer Joseph Lufkin received witness statements in reference to the investigation, including one from the physician of the clinic, Dr. Mark Rogow.

Rogow said he did not give Phelps permission to sign his name to anything or use his receipts for personal profit. He also stated that he had multiple patients affected by Phelps‚ actions.

One patient said he went to the clinic to renew his medical marijuana card and after not hearing back from them, he called to ask what happened and was told his credit card wouldn‚t process. He was told to return to the clinic with his card and more money. When the patient went in on Feb. 17 Phelps reportedly told him it would be done that Friday but when he returned on Friday, he was told Phelps had quit. He was also told Phelps stated that he he‚d never brought the credit card in. Later that day, a worker and Rogow delivered his credit card and money back to him, and said that Phelps never put the money on the card or submitted the forms, but they had been resubmitted by the worker.

Lufkin was dispatched to the clinic where he met with one of the business owners, who alleged Phelps was believed to have been taking money from the clinic because the patient charts and payments weren‚t adding up. The owner believed Phelps was keeping the $100 cash payments that was taken from patients to see the doctor, but then not putting it down in the books. They believed Phelps had been forging the doctor‚s signature and then keeping the patient‚s cash, and then transferring the payment using her credit card.

It was discovered Phelps had quit earlier that morning so officers traveled to Phelps residence to speak with her.

Phelps reportedly confessed to taking money from the clinic to help with her financial situation but denied forging the doctor‚s signature. She then signed a voluntary search form and officers were able to find documentation with the supposed forged doctor‚s signature.

Phelps said she was hired to manage the front desk, schedule appointments, and occasionally help submit OMMMA applications. She said she began having debt issues and took $100 with the intention of paying back on pay day and said she didn‚t know how many times she did this.

When asked if she‚d ever received permission to sign Rogow‚s name, she said she did not but she had signed his name on a caregiver form before but that the nurse was aware of it. Phelps was also found to have three OMMA forms, one that was filled out and appeared to have a physician‚ signature on it. The other two forms were black except for the physician‚s signature.

If found guilty of the crime, District Attorney Jack Thorp said it is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or at the discretion of the court, by imprisonment in the county jail for one or more nights or weekends, by a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both fine and imprisonment.