Former West Virginia state health official Timothy Priddy was sentenced to one year of probation for lying about verifying vendor invoices from a company claiming to have conducted COVID-19 tests for the state. Priddy pleaded guilty to making a false statement to investigators. An indictment filed in October 2022 charged Priddy with lying to federal agents when he claimed he verified vendor invoices before approving them for COVID-19 tests as part of a back-to-school program. Prosecutors stated that Priddy made false statements because he did not actually verify the invoices as he had claimed.
Priddy, who held managerial positions with the state Bureau for Public Health’s Center for Threat Preparedness, resigned from his job the day the indictment was announced. Federal investigators were looking into whether vendors providing COVID-19 tests to the state overbilled or received federal payments they were not entitled to receive. The investigation focused on a vendor that submitted invoices approved by Priddy totaling more than $34 million. The vendor reported the results of about 49,000 COVID-19 tests but submitted invoices reflecting the cost of about 518,000 test kits. The vendor, from out of state, provided test kits, laboratory analysis, and held community testing events throughout West Virginia.
The West Virginia Health Department stated that the contract with the company ended in October 2022 and fully cooperated with federal investigators. U.S. Attorney Will Thompson mentioned that there are ongoing concerns about the legitimacy of the vendor’s invoices, but there is no evidence that Priddy lied to protect the vendor’s interests or further their business. Instead, it appears that Priddy lied to conceal his own failure to complete his duties properly. Priddy faced a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but was ultimately sentenced to one year of probation.
The case involving Priddy sheds light on potential issues within the state’s COVID-19 testing and mitigation services. Prosecutors have not named the vendor involved in the investigation, but the indictment revealed discrepancies between the number of tests reported and the number of test kits claimed in invoices. Vendors were required to report test results to provide officials with accurate information about COVID-19 infections and identify hotspots. Priddy’s actions, in this case, highlight the importance of transparency and integrity in public health management, particularly during a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The sentencing of Priddy sends a message about accountability and transparency in government dealings, particularly in matters related to public health. The case also underscores the importance of conducting thorough investigations into potential misuse of public funds to ensure that taxpayer money is being used appropriately. Moving forward, it is crucial for state health officials to maintain strict oversight and compliance measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The consequences of Priddy’s actions serve as a warning to others in positions of authority to uphold ethical standards and adhere to the law, especially when handling public health matters that impact the well-being of communities.
