A hospital board member has been arrested for allegedly using his position of authority to rake in over $1.2 million illegally.
The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) announced the arrest of Phil McNeer on Tuesday. McNeer previously served on the North Sunflower Medical Center Board of Trustees and is accused of working with a business associate, Chris Waldrup, to submit fraudulent invoices to the hospital in Ruleville. Waldrup was also arrested for his alleged role in the decade-long scheme.
Between March 2015 and March 2025, McNeer and Waldrup are said to have submitted 216 fraudulent invoices to North Sunflower Medical Center. According to the OSA, the two concealed the identity of McNeer’s business by submitting invoices under Waldrup’s name.
As a board member, McNeer was prohibited by law from using his position to benefit himself or any business he is associated with.
“My office has a no-tolerance policy for theft of taxpayer dollars,” State Auditor Shad White said. “The dedicated team at the state auditor’s office will continue to work closely with prosecutors to get record results for taxpayers.”
White’s office has ordered McNeer and Waldrup to pay back $1.2 million, in addition to the criminal charges the two now face. If McNeer is convicted, he will face up to $26,000 in fines and up to 30 years in prison. If Waldrup is convicted, he will face up to $21,000 in fines and up to 20 years in prison.
