Hospital Records Embezzler Fined $52K

What was an unmanageable work situation has now turned into financial hardship for a former Mills-Peninsula Hospital mail room clerk.

Katherine Asimos entered a no contest plea to theft by embezzlement last year, and last week a judge ordered her to repay the hospital $51,859.94.

According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, from May 1 to June 11, 2011, Asimos took home up to 1,000 patient files from the Burlingame hospital, including dates of birth, medical information and patient names. Asimos told the court she was overwhelmed at work and had to take the documents home with her to finish her filing.

In a separate case, Asimos was also found to have written checks on her elderly father's account without his permission.

Asimos, 51, worked at the hospital starting in 2001, DA's Office notes reveal. 

In addition to the major fine, she must also pay $365 to the probation department. Asimos will appear in court again in November to discuss her ability to pay the restitution fine.