More Charges Filed in Pa. Health Case

Three top officials of the Allegheny Health Education and Research Foundation have been indicted on theft and conspiracy charges for allegedly misspending more than $52-million in charitable donations.

Allegheny was the non-profit parent company of a string of hospitals in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh until bankruptcy forced it to sell off the Philadelphia facilities.

The indictments, pursued by Pennsylvania Attorney General Mike Fisher, follow a civil suit in which the state is seeking to recover nearly $80-million from those three executives as well as from other top officials and trustees, who Mr. Fisher says were also improperly using charity funds (The Chronicle, March 9).

The officials involved in the criminal case are Sherif Abdelhak, who was removed as chief executive of Allegheny; David McConnell, who was chief financial officer; and Nancy Wynstra, who was executive vice president.

Mr. Fisher alleges that Mr. Abdelhak, Mr. McConnell, and Ms. Wynstra used foundation funds for “personal and other improper expenses,” and “then stole millions in charitable dollars in an effort to save the mismanaged system.”

Lawyers for the defendants did not respond to calls for comment.