Ex-charity CEO begins 33-month sentence for embezzling $550K

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana hospital foundation's former fundraising chief convicted of stealing over $550,000 in donations is scheduled to start his 33-month sentence.

Attorney Walt Green told news outlets that 49-year-old John Paul Funes was told to report to the Federal Correctional Institution in Terre Haute, Indiana Monday after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.

Funes was fired as the president and CEO of Our Lady of the Lake Foundation last year.

Prosecutors have said Funes stole gift cards meant for cancer patients. They said he also flew his family and friends to football games on charter flights recorded as "outbound patient transport."

Prosecutors said the fraud spanned from 2012 to 2018.

Funes was told to pay a $50,000 fine. He has paid $796,000 in restitution.