Ex-hospital CEO accused of funneling $14M for lavish way of life, son’s $109K Beverly Hills baptism

A former hospital govt siphoned not less than $14 million from a well being system and used firm cash to bankroll a lavish way of life that included a $109,000 Beverly Hills baptism celebration for his son, in accordance with a bombshell lawsuit.

Michael Sarian, the ousted founder and former CEO of Healthcare Systems of America, was accused of diverting hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from hospitals in Florida and different states into private accounts, household trusts and different unauthorized makes use of whereas the amenities struggled to pay payments and preserve operations.

The lawsuit, which was first reported by the Miami Herald, alleges Sarian handled firm accounts as his private piggy financial institution, funneling hundreds of thousands out of the well being system between September 2024 and January 2026.

Among probably the most eye-popping allegations is a declare that greater than $109,000 was wired from a Healthcare Systems of America company account to the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills for Sarian’s son’s baptism celebration.

The submitting features a social-media publish allegedly displaying the occasion, in addition to banking data figuring out a baptism as the aim of the switch.

The swimsuit additionally alleges Sarian solid — or directed another person to forge — an worker’s signature to divert one other $120,000.

Sarian has denied wrongdoing.

He and his spouse, Evelina, have argued that the baptism fee was a certified reimbursement of cash he beforehand superior to assist cowl hospital payroll and have characterised the allegations as a part of an effort to grab management of the corporate.

The authorized combat is the most recent twist in a bitter authorized battle for management of a hospital community that operates Palmetto General Hospital, Coral Gables Hospital, Hialeah Hospital, North Shore Medical Center and Florida Medical Center.

According to the criticism, Sarian’s transfers contributed to extreme monetary pressure throughout the system, impairing its capacity to satisfy payroll, pay distributors, compensate physicians and fulfill different working obligations.

The lawsuit cited by the Herald alleges that inside a day of Healthcare Systems of America receiving greater than $16 million supposed to assist hospital operations and acquisitions, $1.28 million was transferred into Sarian’s private accounts.

Plaintiffs declare Sarian has failed to supply a full accounting of the transfers.

Sarian disputes the allegations and has accused Faisal Gill — a former household lawyer who now controls the Florida hospital system — of orchestrating a company takeover.

Gill has denied these accusations, saying the litigation is meant to get better cash that rightfully belongs to the hospitals and guarantee sources are directed towards affected person care.

The dispute follows an earlier courtroom combat through which new administration accused Sarian of making an attempt to regain management of hospital financial institution accounts after he was eliminated as chief govt.

The hospitals on the middle of the battle had been acquired in 2024 out of the chapter of Steward Health Care, the once-sprawling hospital chain whose collapse triggered one of many largest healthcare restructurings in recent times.

The Post has sought remark from Sarian and Gill.