The former Auburn Community Hospital employee who admitted to stealing medical supplies and selling them on eBay was placed on interim probation Tuesday for one year and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution to the hospital.
Zachary Tabone pleaded guilty late last month in Cayuga County Court to two counts of grand larceny.
According to court documents obtained by the Auburn Citizen, Tabone stole over $100,000 worth of supplies, including flu tests and thermometer probes, while he worked as lead stockroom clerk from 2021 to 2023. The investigation began after hospital employees noticed a $7,611 UPS charge in December 2023. Tabone allegedly used the account to ship 379 packages, mainly to Brooklyn.
Tabone must pay $100,000 in restitution by May 5, 2026, to receive a five-year probation sentence, with one year already served. Failure to pay could lead to a recommendation for incarceration by the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office.
Following Tabone’s arrest, ACH praised its fiscal controls and alert staff who reported the irregularities:
“Thanks to the strict fiscal controls established to protect Auburn Community Hospital’s supplies and equipment, our finance team and purchasing department leadership identified a discrepancy, leading to an immediate internal review of past purchases.
“Our internal review showed a difference in orders isolated to one former employee. Administrators immediately contacted the Auburn Police Department. Our finance team and purchasing leadership collaborated with law enforcement. Thankfully, this level of cooperation led to the arrest of a former employee.
“Because of the great work of our purchasing department, Auburn Community Hospital continues to maintain a steady supply and adequate backup of equipment and supplies needed for our patients.
“Our system of strict controls and checks and balances worked. We will continue to collaborate closely with police and prosecutors at any time. We thank the Auburn Police Department for their efforts in bringing this to conclusion.”
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