Jackson Health Foundation Executive Pleads Guilty to Taking Kickbacks, Stealing Foundation Money to Buy Designer Handbags and Golf Cart

MIAMI - The former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Jackson Health Foundation (Foundation) pleaded guilty on September 11 to embezzling millions of dollars from the nonprofit by submitting false invoices and taking kickbacks.

According to court documents, from 2014 through 2024, Charmaine Gatlin, 52, served as COO of the Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System. During her tenure, Gatlin drew a base salary ranging from $185,000 and $290,000. Despite her compensation, in pleading guilty, Gatlin admitted that she defrauded the Foundation out of at least $4.3 million by directing funds to herself, her relatives, or unrelated entities, rather than to the Foundation or Jackson Health System.

For example, Gatlin approved approximately $2 million in invoices from a Georgia-based audiovisual company for services that were never provided. In return, the vendor paid Gatlin $1 million in kickbacks, which she used in part to pay her personal credit card bill. Gatlin coached the vendor on how to falsify invoices, including billing for audiovisual services that had already been donated to the Foundation. The vendor, Yergan Jones, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme (25-cr-20312).

Gatlin also directed a merchandise vendor to purchase luxury items for her from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Apple in exchange for keeping the Foundation's business. Gatlin further misused restricted donations, such as approving $55,101 in Foundation funds to purchase 10,000 "first aid kits" falsely labeled as "trauma burn giveaways" from the same vendor.

In another instance, Gatlin submitted a false invoice to cover the purchase of a rose gold-colored golf cart, which she had delivered to her Weston home in September 2023.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom on November 25. Gatlin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quinoñes for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.

FBI Miami investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Young is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. The case number is 25-cr-20220.

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