Feds: Town man faces up to 50 years in prison for scams

HAMDEN — A town man faces up to 50 years in prison after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars through two fraudulent schemes, including one that targeted Yale New Haven Hospital, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for Connecticut.

Lamont Bethea, 31, pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, and bank fraud, which carries a potential penalty of 30 years in prison, prosecutors said.

In June 2020, Bethea took part in an effort to steal payroll funds while working as a patient care associate with Yale New Haven Hospital, prosecutors said.

Another woman made fraudulent entries in the payroll system, prosecutors said; Bethea and another individual received undue funds; they would then kick back some of the money to the woman.

Yale New Haven Hospital sustained a loss of more than $116,260 through the scheme, prosecutors said. Bethea allegedly had $106,000 deposited in his bank account, prosecutors said.

In July 2020, Bethea allegedly forged the signature of another party on stolen checks, then deposited them into his bank account, prosecutors said.

“Using the routing and account numbers on the checks, Bethea also arranged electronic transfers from the victim’s bank account and used these transfers to pay personal expenses for himself, his family members, and friends,” including redit card bills, rent, car insurance payments, student loans, cellphone bills and more, prosecutors said.

“Through this scheme, Bethea and others stole more than $317,000, of which Bethea and his family members and friends received a total of more than $131,000,” prosecutors said.

Bethea, who is free on $50,000 bond, is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 23.