Former Yale New Haven payroll worker pleads guilty to theft in federal court

A woman who authorities say stole more than $100,000 from Yale New Haven Health Systems by adding fake entries to payroll records pleaded guilty Wednesday to a theft charge, a U.S. Attorney’s spokesman said.

Lorita Fair, 51, of Rock Hill, SC, formerly of New Haven, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to one count of theft in connection with health care, Tom Carson said.

According to court documents, Fair began working in Yale New Haven’s payroll department in January 2020 as a temporary worker and was hired as a full-time employee in May 2020.