ATLANTA – The state announced Wednesday that a former temporary worker in the Department of Community Health is charged with two counts of racketeering for stealing from the agency and two other former employers.
Attorney General Sam Olens’ office reported that a Cherokee County grand jury indicted Tina Lewis on Monday after an investigation launched by Community Health brought to light alleged irregularities. She was a temporary employee applying for a regular job with the department when her resume struck officials as suspicious.
A probe by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Community Health’s investigator suggested she had faked court documents, school credentials and other identities as well as covering up felony convictions in Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia. It concluded she stole at least $25,000 from the department as a temp by cashing travel-reimbursement checks made out to others.
Investigators also believe she embezzled $50,000 from a previous employer, Gemini Trucking, and then pilfered from Universal Alloy after it hired her when Community Health fired her.
While an indictment isn’t proof she’s guilty, if a jury finds she committed the crimes, she could face from five to 20 years in prison and a fine up to three times the value of whatever she is proven to have taken.