Rodney Ellis, the previous monetary officer of Sumter Behavioral Well being Providers (SBHS), a Sumter, S.C.-based nonprofit substance abuse help and remedy group, pleaded responsible to diverting greater than $800,000 from the group to his private financial institution accounts, based on a press release from the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the District of South Carolina.

Ellis had been employed by SBHS between 2002 and December 2020, based on costs filed within the District Court docket of america for the District of South Carolina Columbia Division. Between 2013 and 2020, Ellis wired funds from SBHS banking accounts to his private accounts within the quantity of roughly $812,259.07. The funds have been routed by way of a server positioned outdoors South Carolina. The funds had not been accepted by SBHS’s board.

Ellis signed a plea settlement wherein he admitted to at least one depend of wire fraud. The cost carries a most jail time period of as much as 20 years, a high quality of $250,000 and supervised launch for as much as three years. Ellis can also be required to give up the total quantity he admitted to diverting, together with associated curiosity and proceeds related together with his theft. A sentencing date has not been introduced.

“Behavioral well being organizations rely on each greenback allotted to deal with these searching for assist for his or her substance abuse challenges,” stated FBI Columbia Particular Agent in Cost Susan Ferensic by way of a press release. “It’s inexcusable for somebody with a high-ranking place, like Ellis, to steal the group’s funds for private profit.”

“This Workplace is dedicated to prosecuting financial crimes, particularly those who reap the benefits of organizations that deal with a few of the most susceptible in our group,” U.S. Legal professional Corey F. Ellis stated in a press release. “We respect the efforts of all state and federal companies concerned on this case.”

SBHS, which was previously referred to as the Sumter Fee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and which nonetheless information Kind 990s beneath that title, reported income of greater than $2.1 million for the yr ending June 30, 2020. At the moment, the group had internet property of just below $1.5 million.