An Augusta mental health center proved to be a gold mine for former state Rep. Robin Williams and his associates and friends, witnesses testified Wednesday.
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Robin Williams: Former lawmaker received more than $357,000 in checks from a friend hired to run the mental health center's pharmacy, according to records.
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As defense attorneys sat mostly mum in U.S. District Court, prosecutors led witnesses through a series of transactions that they contend show that Mr. Williams and four others committed conspiracy and health care fraud in their dealings with the Community Mental Health Center of East Central Georgia.
Mr. Williams, former center Director C. Michael Brockman, Augusta pharmacist Duncan Fordham and lobbyists M. Chad Long and Rick L. Camp have pleaded not guilty to all charges in a 30-count indictment. Their trial began Monday.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Woody Boyd said that, when interviewed by investigators, Mr. Camp could only remember one lobbying job for the mental health center as part of a contract worth $46,000.
Mr. Camp also said he had no idea why he received a check for $71,218 from the center, Agent Boyd said.
The day Mr. Camp received that check, he told Agent Boyd that he gave a woman he identified as "Patty" a $55,000 personal check made out to Mr. Williams, Agent Boyd said Wednesday.
Patricia "Patty" Fink testified that she didn't remember picking up the check from Mr. Camp.
"I don't remember ... I don't recall," she said repeatedly before being confronted with her grand jury testimony.
Ms. Fink was paid $10,000 a month by Mr. Williams for work at his consulting company. She testified that $5,000 of that went toward the $1,125,000 Evans home she was buying from him.
Ms. Fink couldn't remember when she worked for the mental health center or why she left, she testified.
In September 2000, Ann Stafford, then the human resource manager, interviewed two women for a job at the mental health center, she testified.
Ms. Stafford recommended Mr. Brockman hire one of the candidates, but Mr. Brockman did not follow that recommendation.
"He said that Patty Fink would be hired," Ms. Stafford testified.
Mr. Fordham, a friend of Mr. Williams and the owner of Duncan Drugs, collected the largest checks from the mental health center, according to records submitted Wednesday.
Mr. Fordham replaced Sherry Goodman, a 16-year veteran pharmacist at the center who was making $64,000 when she left in 2000, she testified.
According to the center's financial records, Mr. Fordham made $18,000 a month to run the center's pharmacy and received more than $1 million in incentive payments.
Mr. Fordham wrote Mr. Williams more than $357,000 in checks during that same period, according to his business records that were submitted into evidence Wednesday.
There also was a check in June 2001 for $3,000 made out to Ms. Fink. The memo note for the check said the payment was for the mental health center.
A search of Mr. Fordham's financial documents revealed that no business contract or loan document existed between the men.
Mr. Williams never submitted an invoice to the pharmacy for payment, a witness testified.
There was one check from Mr. Williams to Duncan Drugs - $10,000 on March 31, 2002, Mr. Fordham's secretary testified.
The check bounced, she said.
Reach Sandy Hodson at (706) 823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com.
What's Next:
Court is expected to resume at 9 a.m. today. The jury has been sequestered for the duration of the trial.
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• Questions focus on pricey cruise
• Robin Williams calls deals honest
• Williams trial witness is first to admit fraud
• Prosecutors say Williams lined pockets
• Witnesses speak of contract talks
• Jurors listen to tales of windfall
• Witness says he was 'puppet'
• Jury hears opening statements
• Fraud trial set for court today
• Trial is set to begin in fraud case
• Center considers name change for credibility
• Mental health center CEO works to get things straight
• Tangle of controversy
• Robin Williams' trial is set to begin Feb. 14
• Trials often have set path
• Health agency's board selects candidates
• Lawyer settles on deal
• Attorney could face complaints on ethics
• Center's ex-lawyer pleads innocent
• Williams' lawyer calls deals legal
• Williams indicted on fraud
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