The Dalton Police Department arrested the former director of the Northwest Georgia Healthcare Partnership on Thursday after an investigation of embezzlement at the nonprofit.
Gregory Jack Dent, 51, is charged with one felony count of theft by taking. So far, the investigation has found that Dent misappropriated more than $80,000 from the organization for his personal use over a period of three years.
The investigation of Dent began in December when a member of the Healthcare Partnership’s board of directors reported the theft to the police department. The nonprofit discovered financial irregularities during an audit of the organization’s 2018 books that was completed in November 2019. The organization fired Dent before the Thanksgiving holiday and then contacted the police department on Dec. 4.
Detectives determined that Dent began to use funds from the Healthcare Partnership in 2017, continuing through 2019 to the time of his firing. Dent had worked for the nonprofit organization since 2014. Investigators determined that he used the stolen funds for personal use not related to the business including travel, meals, clothing, and other personal expenses.
Dent was taken into custody on Thursday after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest. The investigation of this case is continuing.