3 Women Charged In Payroll Scheme Against Morris Co. Hospital

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Three women from Morris County have been arrested in connection with an extortion scheme involving more than $70,000 from an Atlantic Health System facility in Morris Plains, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll announced Thursday night.

Jessica Addison, 39, and Kaleigh Kalb, 21, both of Chester, and Isabella Valentine, 21, of Mendham Township, were charged with third-degree theft and conspiracy to commit theft, police said.

All three women were charged on a summons complaint and released pending a court appearance.

According to prosecutors, in November 2021, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes Unit became involved in an investigation into a suspected employee theft of payroll funds from the Atlantic Health System facility in Morris Plains.

Further investigation revealed that Addison, who worked for Atlantic Health System, participated in a scheme to create false employee profiles with both Kalb and Valentine.

This allowed Addison to submit falsified timecards for both Kalb and Valentine, despite the fact that neither performed work for the company, Carroll said.

As a result, weekly payroll distributions totaling approximately $71,157 were received and systematically distributed among the three women.

According to authorities, Addison is no longer employed by Atlantic Health System.

Patch reached out to a representative of Atlantic Health System but has yet to hear back.

Prosecutors took the opportunity to remind the public that businesses of all sizes are encouraged to promptly report criminal activity and cooperate with law enforcement.