Former VP of metro Atlanta health care company charged with intentionally delaying delivery of PPE to others

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The Department of Justice says it has charged a former vice president of a health care company for breaking into a computer system and altering records that ended up delaying supplies of face masks and other personal protective equipment to other health care providers.

Channel 2 Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Tony Thomas broke the news on Twitter Thursday afternoon that Christopher Dobbins, 40, of Duluth, had been charged.

Federal investigators Dobbins worked at Stradis Healthcare in Peachtree Corners, and a federal complaint said he was so disgruntled that he intentionally messed with company records so shipments of needed hospital supplies would be delayed during this pandemic.

Stradis Healthcare released a video late Thursday with its CEO Adam Sokol talking about the arrest of his former vice president of finance.

“Of course we are disappointed, but more importantly he disabled the shipping module which delayed shipments of critical PPE and surgical products to hospitals and medical facilities nationwide,” Sokol said.

In the complaint unsealed Thursday afternoon, Dobbins is accused of changing more than 115,000 company records and deleting 2,300 more.

The FBI said Dobbins was fired in early March but got into the company system March 29 using a fake account he set up before leaving.

The company discovered the issue April 7 as it tried to rush supplies out to hospitals during this global pandemic.

Video shot Thursday shows Stradis workers in its Peachtree Corners facility continuing to make masks, gowns and other supplies as shipments continue.

“Lives are at stake. It’s all we think about every day. It’s all we think about every day is getting these products into the hands of providers,” Sokol said.

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In a news release, U.S. Attorney Byung J. “BJay” Pak said Dobbins would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“Scarce medical supplies should go to the health care workers and hospitals that need them during the pandemic. The Department of Justice is dedicated to moving quickly on cases like this to bring criminal opportunists to justice and protect the public during these challenging times,” Pak said.

“We did engage law enforcement and the FBI and trust the justice system will take it from here,” Sokol said.

The complaint against Dobbins does not make clear exactly how many shipments were directly impacted.

Federal records show Dobbins was released on a $25,000 bond after his court appearance Thursday afternoon.

Local company keeping 500 Georgians employed producing PPE Encompass is working non-stop to help produce PPE for people across the country.

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