Worker stole ventilators, COVID-19 supplies from VA center to sell on eBay, feds say

A former health care worker has been charged for allegedly stealing coronavirus supplies and ventilators from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center and selling them on eBay, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Washington announced.

Gene Wamsley, 41, of Bonney Lake, was charged with theft of government property after he was accused of stealing ventilators and respiratory support equipment from the VA facility where he worked as a respiratory therapist in Seattle, according to a news release.

“Right now respiratory support equipment is critical in medical care for those suffering with COVID-19 infections. To steal and sell equipment needed to care for our veterans is a shocking betrayal,” U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran said in the release.

The veterans facility reported several bronchoscopes missing from the hospital and hospital staff found listings for bronchoscopes on eBay, according to the court filing. Wamsley allegedly listed five ventilators and other medical equipment for sale on eBay, officials say.

A search warrant was executed at Wamsley’s house and law enforcement found eBay sales records and medical supplies, according to the release.

Theft of government property holds a sentence of up to ten years in prison, according to the release.

Ventilators help support patients with respiratory conditions by pumping air through the lungs — and hospitals have previously reported a shortage on ventilators back in March, McClatchy News reported.

This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 11:43 AM with the headline "Worker stole ventilators, COVID-19 supplies from VA center to sell on eBay, feds say."