The former chief executive officer of a network of community health clinics in central and eastern Washington has pleaded guilty to embezzling twenty-four million dollars. The admission brings a major fraud case to a head, involving an organization built to support health care in several parts of the state.
The man at the center of the case is Patrick Bucknam, who served as the CEO of the community clinic network. According to authorities, the network provided support for health clinics in the areas of Wenatchee, the Tri-Cities and the Yakima Valley, communities across central and eastern Washington.
Prosecutors say the scheme unfolded over a period of several years. They claim that Bucknam moved millions of dollars between 2017 and 2023, steadily diverting funds away from the organization he was entrusted to lead during that time.
Investigators have also detailed how the money was allegedly spent. The Department of Justice claims that Bucknam used the embezzled funds to purchase vehicles, a boat, and coins made of precious metals, turning the diverted money into personal assets.
According to the case against him, Bucknam also took steps to cover his tracks. Authorities say he moved money around in an effort to hide the missing funds, making it harder to detect that large sums were disappearing from the clinic network's accounts.
With the guilty plea now entered, the case moves toward its final stage. Bucknam is scheduled to be sentenced in September, when a court will decide the consequences he faces for admitting to the embezzlement of such a large sum.
The case draws attention because the money was tied to a network supporting community health clinics, resources meant to serve patients across the region. The scale of the admitted embezzlement underscores the impact such fraud can have on organizations that provide health care to local communities.