Maryville — The former executive director of the Blount Memorial Foundation pleaded guilty Monday to stealing thousands of dollars over nearly a decade.
Jane Gilbert Andrews will serve a six-year term on probation, as detailed in a Blount County Circuit Court plea agreement. Andrews appeared Monday in court and was booked and photographed.
The thefts, which dated to 2007, were discovered in 2016 while an audit was being conducted, documents show.
Andrews already has paid about $186,000 in restitution, according to records.
She used the money for personal purchases, according to records.
Andrews pleaded guilty to theft over $10,000, a class C felony.
Coulter & Justus was conducting an audit of the 2015-16 fiscal year when the theft came to light. The "unauthorized disbursements" began in October 2007 and continued through April 2016, according to documents obtained from the state Comptroller's Office.
A Sept. 12, 2016, report from Coulter & Justus to the Blount Memorial Hospital board stated, "As of the date of our report, the Hospital's management informed us they are investigating potential unauthorized disbursements made by a Hospital employee."
Andrews left the foundation and made restitution by Sept. 30, 2016, according to Comptroller's documents.
The foundation secures money to help the hospital provide care.
