CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former West Virginia state well being workplace supervisor who was indicted on expenses associated to coronavirus pandemic reduction funds is because of enter a plea later this month.
Timothy Priddy is about to seem in federal courtroom on Jan. 22, a day earlier than his trial had been scheduled to begin. Federal prosecutors mentioned he’s anticipated to plead responsible. U.S. District Choose Thomas Johnston scheduled the listening to on Tuesday.
An indictment filed in October charged Priddy with making false statements concerning the funds to federal brokers in August 2022 and in grand jury testimony the next month. On each events, Priddy knew his statements had been false as a result of he made no efforts to confirm the invoices earlier than approving them, in response to the indictment.
Priddy held varied supervisor positions with the state Bureau for Public Well being’s Middle for Risk Preparedness. He was promoted to deputy director in March 2021 and to director in January 2022, in response to the indictment.
Prosecutors mentioned the federal investigation was making an attempt to find out whether or not a number of distributors offering COVID-19 exams and mitigation companies to the state overbilled or in any other case acquired cost from federal funds disbursed by the state’s primary well being company, the Division of Well being and Human Assets. That company was reorganized into three separate departments efficient Jan. 1.
Prosecutors mentioned the seller reported the outcomes of about 49,000 COVID-19 exams between October 2020 and March 2022 however submitted invoices reflecting the price of about 518,000 take a look at kits. Regardless of the discrepancy, Priddy licensed not less than 13 of the invoices totaling about $34 million, they mentioned.
The indictment didn’t title the seller however mentioned the corporate was from out of state and offered take a look at kits, laboratory evaluation and neighborhood testing occasions all through West Virginia.
The well being company had mentioned beforehand {that a} contract with the corporate for diagnostic testing companies led to October 2022 and that the company cooperated totally with federal investigators.
Based on its contract, the seller was required to offer nasal swab diagnostic testing for COVID-19 and add take a look at outcomes instantly. The exams had been for particular DHHR packages and initiatives, together with residential youth services and hospice companies, places resembling pharmacies the place folks go to get examined for COVID-19, and kits for emergency medical companies staff who had been required to be examined continuously.
Distributors contracted by the state had been required to report the take a look at outcomes in order that officers would have correct info on the variety of lively COVID-19 infections and geographical areas experiencing outbreaks, the indictment mentioned.
Practically 8,900 folks have died from COVID-19 in West Virginia since March 2020, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
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