MOUNT PLEASANT (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - An employee of the Northeast Texas Public
Health district was arrested earlier this month for allegedly stealing
the identities of hundreds of patients at a Mount Pleasant clinic she
worked for before moving to Tyler.
Selena
Patino, 38, of Mount Pleasant, was arrested by the Titus County
Sherriff's Office on Jan. 4 and charged with fraudulent use or
possession of identifying information, a second-degree felony, and
credit card abuse, a state jail felony. If convicted, she faces up to 20
years in prison for the second-degree felony and up to two years in a
state jail facility for the state jail felony.
Ms. Patino worked in the Texas Department of
State Health Services (DSHS) Mount Pleasant clinic since 2008 before
becoming employed by the Northeast Texas Public Health District, or NET
Health, in October. She was terminated by NET Health on Jan. 3, and
authorities do not believe any clients of the local facility were
victims.
Investigators determined
that Ms. Patino had assumed the identity of clients receiving
immunizations and other services at the clinic in Mount Pleasant,
according to a prepared statement from the Titus County Sheriff's
Office. Ms. Patino used the client information and applied for credit
cards online and when approved, made as many purchases as the credit
card would allow.
Some of the property Ms. Patino purchased with
the credit cards was recovered, along with stolen credit cards,
immunization records and other documents with the names of clients or
family members and social security numbers.
"In coordination
with law enforcement, the Texas Department of State Health Services is
investigating the actions of a former DSHS Mount Pleasant clinic
employee who is alleged to have fraudulently used credit card and other
personal information from local clients and colleagues to make recent
purchases," Carrie Williams, director of media relations for DSHS, said
in a prepared statement.
George Roberts, chief executive officer
of the NET Health, said Ms. Patino's victims appear to be limited to the
people who received services at the Mount Pleasant clinic.
Ms.
Patino was an employee for the DSHS for almost five years. After NET
Health took over responsibility of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
program from DSHS on Oct. 1, Ms. Patino was transferred to Tyler,
Roberts said.
He said allegations about Ms. Patino's actions at
the Mount Pleasant clinic were brought to their attention, they
investigated and fired her before her arrest.
Ms. Williams said
several hundred people have been identified so far as possible victims
and DSHS will be notifying them. "It is unclear whether the matter
involves only recent patients, or whether older records were accessed,"
she said. "There is no indication at this time that clients receiving
DSHS services in other parts of the state were affected."
People
who received services at the Mount Pleasant clinic and believe they may
be the victims of identity theft are urged to contact credit bureaus to
review their histories and evaluate whether a fraud alert or credit
monitoring is warranted, Ms. Williams said.
The credit bureaus
are Equifax at 877-478-7625; Experian at 888-397-3742; and TransUnion at
800-680-7289. Potential victims can also contact DSHS at 800-350-6029
for more information.
"If people find evidence that their
personal information has been misused, they should notify local law
enforcement," Ms. Williams said.
She said DSHS is also offering
free credit monitoring and identity theft services for people whose
personal information was found in the possession of Ms. Patino without
authorization.
Selena Patino, 38, of Mount Pleasant (Titus County Sherriff’s Office/Courtesy)
