Former Saint Francis Employee Charged In $130,000 Embezzlement Scheme

Former Saint Francis Employee Charged With $130,000 Embezzlement Scheme

A former Saint Francis Health System employee is facing felony embezzlement charges after investigators say she stole more than $130,000 from a hospital café over nearly four years.

According to court documents, Jenny Palacios, a former café employee at the Saint Francis Hospital Yale campus in Tulsa, is accused of embezzling $130,786.06 between January 2022 and December 2025. Investigators allege Palacios used fraudulent cash void transactions to conceal the thefts before an internal audit uncovered irregularities that ultimately led to a criminal investigation.

Saint Francis Employee Accused Of Four-Year Theft Scheme

According to a probable cause affidavit, the investigation began after an internal audit identified an unusually high number of cash void transactions that did not match legitimate corrections or register errors.

Hospital officials determined Palacios accounted for more than 80% of all cash void transactions recorded between the hospital café and cafeteria kiosk during the review period.

When questioned, Palacios reportedly told investigators the voids were caused by software glitches and computer freezes.

However, investigators said surveillance video showed Palacios entering the cash void transactions after the café had closed for the day while she was alone inside the facility.

The evidence was later turned over to the Tulsa Police Department, which launched a criminal investigation into the alleged thefts.

Investigation Led To Alleged Admission

During a formal interview with Saint Francis Health System Human Resources, court records state Palacios admitted taking the money.

According to investigators, she told officials she stole the cash because she "wasn't paid enough."

The affidavit alleges the thefts occurred repeatedly over nearly four years, allowing the losses to accumulate to more than $130,000 before the discrepancies were discovered during the audit.

Following the investigation, Saint Francis Health System terminated Palacios' employment and referred the case to law enforcement.

In a statement, the hospital said it was disappointed an employee failed to uphold the organization's values of integrity and stewardship while emphasizing the case does not reflect the dedication and professionalism of its thousands of other employees.

Criminal Case Now Moves Forward

Palacios has been arrested and charged with embezzlement. She later posted bond and was released while awaiting future court proceedings.

An arrest and criminal charges are allegations, and Palacios is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The case highlights the importance of internal financial controls and routine audits designed to detect irregular transactions before losses become more significant. Investigators say the hospital's audit process ultimately identified the suspicious activity, allowing evidence to be gathered and presented to prosecutors for criminal charges. The case will now proceed through the Oklahoma court system as prosecutors continue pursuing the felony embezzlement allegation.

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