A Department of Veterans Affairs respiratory therapist is accused of stealing COVID-19 medical supplies and selling them on eBay, according to the Justice Department.
Between January and June, Gene Wamsley, a 41-year-old Bonney Lake, Wash. man, allegedly stole and sold ventilators, bronchoscopes and other respiratory support equipment from the Seattle VA Medical Center where he worked, according to U.S. Attorney Brian Moran. Wamsely was working at a VA hospital until he was placed on leave on June 9.
“Right now respiratory support equipment is critical in medical care for those suffering with COVID-19 infections," Moran said in a statement. "To steal and sell equipment needed to care for our veterans is a shocking betrayal."
In January, the hospital reported two bronchoscopes missing. A third was later reported missing in April. Hospital staff noticed some of the equipment listed for sale on eBay from a seller in Bonney Lake.
The DoJ investigation linked the sale of the three bronchoscopes to Wamsely and further review of eBay records showed he also sold five ventilators in March and April, according to the criminal complaint. At least three ventilators were missing from the hospital during the same period.
EBay records showed other respiratory equipment sold by the account connected to Wamsely, the complaint said. Hospital leaders said the items were missing from the hospital's respiratory therapy department.
When law enforcement searched Wamsley's home, DoJ officials said they found medical supplies and seized eBay records.
Attempts to reach Wamsely were not successful Thursday. A lawyer at the law firm representing Wamsley declined to comment and said it was the firm's policy not to comment on current cases or clients.
Theft of government property is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
COVID-19 cases across VA continue to increase. As of June 18, the department had 17,856 total cases, 1,851 of which were considered "active" and 1,494 deaths. VA also has 1,840 employee cases and 36 staff deaths.
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Reach Abbie Bennett: abbie@connectingvets.com or @AbbieRBennett.
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