BROKEN BOW – Authorities say that Jennifer Nielsen, age 49 of Broken Bow, stole more than $100,000 from Central Nebraska Medical Clinic (CNMC) in a 12 year period. Nielsen made her first appearance in Custer County Court on Monday morning (March 24) facing felony charges.
Nielsen’s two felony charges are theft by unlawful taking ($1,500 or more) and theft by deception ($1,500 or more). Judge Tami Schendt said an earlier version of each charge applied due to when the incidents occurred. Each charge, as a class III felony, carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $25,000 fine, or both.
An arrest affidavit explains that an investigation into a potential employee theft from CNMC began in August by the Nebraska State Patrol. The loss was determined to be approximately $118,696.35 during a period when Nielsen was in charge of the billing department from 2012 until 2024.
In an internal audit, CNMC discovered cash payments made by patients between 2021 and 2024 were not posted to their accounts totaling $13,482.92. It is believed those payments were taken by Nielsen and not deposited into or posted to patient accounts.
An additional audit was unable to locate payments in the amount of $105,213.43 from between 2012 and 2024. The affidavit states that patient accounts were noted as being sent to collections, resulting in a $0 balance due showing on accounts. Once marked as ‘sent to collections’, the patient statements were removed from monthly billing statements that were to be sent.
Monday’s appearance did not end with a plea by Nielsen, who has posted bond. She will be back in court on April 21.
Thomas S. Thies, age 36 of Ansley, also appeared in County Court for sentencing. In a plea agreement, Thies pleaded no contest to an amended charge of assault (causing bodily injury), a class I misdemeanor. Other charges against Thies were dropped. On Monday, Judge Schendt sentenced Thies to two years probation with conditions.
