Dental Embezzlement Cases Over $1 Million

Prosperident has documented 31 dental embezzlement cases involving thefts of $1 million or more. At this scale, embezzlement is rarely a single act of opportunity — it is a sustained scheme that operated for years before discovery, exploiting weaknesses in financial controls that the dentist did not know existed. The cases below are drawn from public records and reflect prosecutions, convictions, and civil judgments reported in news media.

Cases in this range tend to share three features: they involve trusted long-tenured employees, they exploit a specific control gap that no one was monitoring, and they are uncovered by accident rather than by audit. Practice owners reading this list will recognize the pattern. If you suspect employee theft in your own practice, call Prosperident at 888-398-2327 for a confidential, no-obligation conversation. Cases like the ones below are why we exist.

• Arizona's Kent Maerki sentenced to 16 years for DSO Ponzi scheme and steal from victims of more than $23M — $23M (Arizona)
• Ontario dentist Dr. Peter Sbaraglia settles with regulator on $21M ponzi scheme to steal — $21M (Canada)
• Former University of Kentucky Dean Stephanos Kyrkanides Sues UK; Alleges University Failed to Act When He Reported Embezzlement - claiming $17.5 million damages — $17.5 m (Kentucky)
• SEC Charges Indianapolis Investment Advisor, Veros Partners, With Fraud involving $15m investment. Veros had hundreds of dental clients — $15m
• Stephen Baird and S-Ray ultrasound company alleged to bilk dentist investors >$10 million — $10 m
• California Dental Assistant Anita Sharma Sentenced for Role in $9.3M Mortgage Fraud Scam — $9.3M (California)
• Former UBC Dentistry faculty member Dr. Christopher Zed Stole $5.1M funds for personal gain, university says — $5.1M
• Brian Nordan, Former Manager of Indiana Practices, Convicted of Embezzling $3 million. Sentenced to 42 months — $3 m (Indiana)
• From the UK -- Evelyn Gore-Strachan got her start embezzling from a dentist and moved on to steal almost £2 MILLION — £2 M (UK)
• Dentist vs. Dentist -- Dr. Nicole LeCann successfully sues partner Dr. Sharon Cobham for steal from practice. Awarded $2.34 million in damages — $2.34 m
• Dr. Clinton Herzog of Texas embezzled $2.1M from investors — $2.1M (Texas)
• Glendale CA Man Ararat Yesayan Sentenced to Three Years for $2.1 Million Bank Scam Involving Dentists — $2.1 M
• Rosemary D'souza and Family Charged With Steal of $2 Million From Georgia Dentist — $2 M (Georgia)
• David Rose, Who Bilked Physicians and Dentists of More Than $2 Million Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison — $2 M
• One of the Biggest Ever -- Lori Doughty's Guilty Plea in $1.9 Million Steal from Washington Dentists — $1.9 M (Washington)
• Michael Doughty, Husband of Washington bookkeeper accused of laundering in $1.9M Steal — $1.9M (Washington)
• Henry Schein employee pleads guilty to $1.6 million embezzlement — $1.6 m
• Victoria Wafford sentenced to 8 years in prison for steal of $1.6 million from California dental office — $1.6 m (California)
• Kennith Bell declares bankruptcy to avoid repayment for steal of $1.2 million from orthodontic practice. Judge rules amount still payable. — $1.2 m
• Stamford CT Dental Office Manager Elena Ilizarov Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Insurance Companies of $1.2 million — $1.2 m (Connecticut)
• Oregon Woman Anndrea Jacobs Convicted for $1.2 Million Steal From Dental and Medical Clinics — $1.2 M (Oregon)
• Dr. Jack Massarsky sentenced to 2 years for $1.2M embezzlement scheme — $1.2M
• Dr. Roben Brookhim of NJ Received A $1.1 Million Fine for Assuming the Identity of a Dead Colleague to Steal from Medicaid — $1.1 M
• Upstate NY's Kimber Cummings Accused of $1.1 Million Steal — $1.1 M (New York)
• Michigan's Stephanie Cieslinski Sentenced to 3 Years for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million From Midland Dentist — $1 M (Michigan)
• Frank Clavelli, NJ Dental supply company president convicted, stole $1M in dental supplies — $1M
• PA dentist sues former employee Teresa Young and her husband for embezzlement -- alleges $1 million steal — $1 m
• Australia's Tina Maree Bartlem jailed for seven years after steal of almost $1 million from boss — $1 m (Australia)
• Wow -- Albany NY Dentist Sues, Accusing Ex-nun Mary Ann Fuina and Christine Mosher of Bilking Him out of Nearly $1M — $1M (New York)
• Pacific Islands Embezzlement - Guam's Teresa Adamos Pereda sentenced to 8 years for $1 million theft — $1 m

Showing 30 of 31 cases.

Related Pages

• Hall of Shame archive (all cases)
• Cases between $100K and $500K
• Cases between $50K and $100K