A former resident of New Hampshire has been sentenced in a federal court for defrauding her previous employer, Bedford Women's Care Associates, of over $140,000. Elizabeth Morse, aged 56 and currently residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, received a sentence of 27 months in federal prison along with two years of supervised release. Additionally, she has been ordered to pay restitution amounting to $168,311.40. Morse had pleaded guilty to wire fraud on November 26, 2024.
"The defendant’s crime was a significant factor in the closure of the medical practice in early 2023, which had widespread ramifications on many individuals, including not only the medical partners but also their former employees," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. "While there is no way to make the victims whole under those circumstances, the court’s sentence today is a measure of justice reflecting the harm her crime caused others."
Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, commented on the case: "Elizabeth Morse betrayed the trust of the medical practice she worked for when she manipulated its payroll to divert tens of thousands of dollars for herself." Cohen added that this case illustrates how diligently the FBI investigates and prosecutes blatant financial fraud.
Court documents reveal that Morse was employed at Bedford Women’s Care Associates (BWCA), a medical group specializing in Obstetrics & Gynecology until its closure in early 2023. As office manager starting in 2020, Morse handled payroll processing through a third-party service. She manipulated this process by increasing her rate of pay beyond what was entitled over approximately three years.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.