Cancer center lawsuit claims embezzlement
The Women's Cancer Center of Nevada filed a civil lawsuit this week in District Court alleging that former employees, including the chief operating officer and bookkeeper, embezzled more than $1 million from the center.
The lawsuit alleges that former chief operating officer Michael Seeley conspired with his brother, Paul Seeley, who worked at the cancer center's billing department, to steal money from the center and steer it to Michael Seeley's fiancee, a resident at Emory University in Atlanta.
The defendants started embezzling money from the cancer center in about 2002 and continued for several years, the complaint states. At times, the defendants were taking more than $25,000 a month from the center, the complaint states.
"We suspect the actual amount stolen was upwards of $2 million," said Liborius Agwara, the attorney representing the cancer center.
Agwara said no criminal complaint has been filed with law enforcement. He said the center, however, may file a criminal complaint against the defendants.
The complaint names Paul Seeley and a former bookkeeper for the cancer center, Sabine Jensen, as defendants. Michael Seeley isn't named as a defendant but is identified in the suit as one of the people involved in the alleged embezzlement.
It remains unclear where the defendants currently reside. They could not be reached for comment. Attorneys for the defendants in a similar lawsuit filed in California federal court did not return inquiries seeking comment.
The lawsuit filed this week alleges that Paul Seeley manipulated the cancer center's computer accounting system to hide the embezzlement and taught his brother how to do it. It also claims that the Seeleys used the center's credit cards for personal purchases, paid Jensen off the books and forged the signature of Dr. Nicola "Nick" Spirtos, president of the center, on checks.
Spirtos said Friday that it was too early to comment on the lawsuit and directed questions to Agwara.
The Women's Cancer Center of Nevada treats gynecological cancers and sees more than 200 patients each month.
Contact reporter David Kihara at dkihara@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-1039.
