MINNEAPOLIS - A former Allina Health vice president pleaded guilty to embezzlement on Thursday, admitting he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from the company since 2004.
David Matthew Johnson, 54, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft by swindle over $35,000 and will be sentenced on June 6, likely to 45 months in prison, according to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office.
The amount Johnson is accused of taking from Allina is likely close to $775,000, according to authorities. However, due to the statute of limitations limiting to the last five years, Johnson can only be charged on thefts since 2013.
In that five years, Johnson admitted to taking more than $417,000, according to the charges.
A criminal complaint states officials at Allina Health became suspicious of Johnson after he was caught submitting fake mileage and personal reimbursement requests in May of 2017. Johnson was vice president of talent and human resource services for Allina at that time.
Allina investigated and found from 2004 to April of 2017, Johnson had embezzled more than $750,000 through fraudulent expense reports, mileage requests and "improper use of his Allina-issued credit card." From 2004 to 2017, Johnson claimed to have taken 3,084 trips and was paid a total of nearly $174,000 in reimbursements. Employees at locations he claimed to have visited confirmed Johnson was never there.
Johnson's position was terminated after he was unable to explain the charges or provide any documentation to support the charges.
While clearing out his belongings at his desk, Allina officials found an invoice that had been altered with wite-out. A co-worker was then seen removing papers from Johnson's desk, which they admitted was at the request of Johnson. The documents seized were related to the purchase of sporting event tickets, according to the charges.
An investigation into Johnson's corporate-issued credit card revealed he spent more than $100,000 on Timberwolves/Lynx games, more than $63,000 on Vikings games and several thousand dollars on Wild and Gophers games.
In court, Johnson did not elaborate on the charges against him but admitted to the crimes detailed in the criminal complaint.
He was initially charged with seven counts of theft by swindle in January, but three counts were dropped.
