A federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday charges former Jackson Health Foundation Chief Operating Officer (COO) Charmaine Gatlin with orchestrating a multi-million-dollar embezzlement scheme that included kickbacks, fraudulent invoices, and lavish personal purchases—including designer handbags and a rose gold golf cart.
Jackson Health System is a large, public, nonprofit health system based in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is one of the largest public health systems in the United States and plays a critical role in providing medical care to both insured and uninsured residents in South Florida.
In celebration of Black History Month, we are proud to recognize our Chief Operating Officer and Co-President Charmaine Gatlin. Charmaine has been a driving force behind the foundation’s success since 2014. pic.twitter.com/GdcNw4aSJy
— Jackson Health Foundation (@JHF_Jackson) February 24, 2021
According to the indictment, Gatlin, 52, of Weston, Florida, served as COO of the Foundation—the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System—from 2014 to 2024. During her tenure, Gatlin earned a base salary ranging from $185,000 to $290,000 and was bound by a conflict-of-interest agreement prohibiting her from making decisions that benefited her personally.
Federal prosecutors allege that Gatlin submitted fraudulent invoices totaling at least $3.6 million for goods and services that either never reached the Foundation or Jackson Health, were misdirected to Gatlin and her relatives, or were provided to an Atlanta-based civic organization referred to as “Civic Organization 1.”
One of the most egregious examples outlined in the indictment involves approximately $2 million in invoices to a Georgia-based audiovisual company for services never rendered. Instead, the vendor allegedly funneled $1 million in kickbacks to Gatlin—some of which she reportedly used to pay off personal credit card bills. Prosecutors say Gatlin also coached the vendor on how to falsify the invoices via email.
The indictment further alleges that Gatlin submitted falsified invoices from a merchandise vendor to obtain luxury gifts, including items from Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Apple. In another instance, she allegedly used Foundation funds to buy a rose gold-colored golf cart delivered directly to her home in September 2023.
Gatlin now faces one count of wire fraud conspiracy, 26 counts of wire fraud, and five counts of money laundering. Each wire fraud-related charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while each money laundering charge carries up to 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne of the Southern District of Florida and acting FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles announced the charges. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Young, with asset forfeiture handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken.
The FBI Miami office led the investigation with assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
