Former VDH Employee Accused of Stealing Over $4 million from Health Department

Henrico County, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - A former state health department employee has been accused of embezzling over $4 million.

Adam Harrell of Chesterfield has been charged with mail fraud, federal program theft, and evasion of tax assessment stemming from his alleged misappropriation of millions in state funding through multiple means, including the creation of a fictitious shell company called “Strategic Tech Innovations, LLC”

In total, Harrell is accused of creating 16 fraudulent invoices.

“Harrell knew when drafting these invoices that his alter ego company, Strategic Tech, would not actually be providing the vast majority of the proposed goods or services to OEMS,” court documents state. “When drafting these invoices, Harrell set exorbitant and non-market prices for the various line items on the invoice.”

He reportedly used the money to buy real estate properties, luxury vehicles, dozens of firearms and jewelry.

According to court documents, Harrell avoided paying the IRS just under $1.9 million through incorrectly filing his taxes.

Harrell began his career with the Virginia Department of Health in 2013. He reportedly held many positions within the agency, including the one in which he allegedly committed these crimes – the associate director of the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS).