A former Wenatchee health care executive and leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $24 million from a regional clinic network he helped build.
U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice issued the sentence on September 23 in Spokane, ordering Patrick Alan Bucknum to serve 48 months in custody and pay $24,368,427.37 in restitution to Community Clinic Network, the entity he led for several years.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Rice imposed three years of supervised release. Bucknum was immediately taken into federal custody following the hearing.
The 48-month sentence surpassed proposals from both parties: prosecutors had asked for 3¾ years, while Bucknum’s attorneys had advocated for three years. It also came in slightly below the 51- to 63-month advisory sentencing range cited during proceedings.
Bucknum admitted guilt in June to one count of wire fraud, opting against a grand jury indictment. His plea followed earlier reporting on the charges filed against him.
Court documents and sentencing filings from prosecutors highlighted the ripple effects of the shortfall across Eastern Washington clinics. Delays in facility upgrades, staffing additions, and service expansions were among the consequences, with several clinic partners submitting victim impact statements detailing operational strain.
One regional provider, Columbia Valley Community Health, noted that the losses impacted “working families, farmworkers, children, seniors, and vulnerable patients who depend on community health centers for access to essential healthcare services.”
Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic chief executive Christy Bracewell Trotter spoke during the sentencing hearing, and Bucknum also addressed the court directly.
Based in Wenatchee, CCN coordinated payment arrangements for clinics statewide. Bucknum co-founded the organization in 2010 and assumed leadership as CEO in 2017, while simultaneously holding the CFO and COO roles.
According to federal prosecutors, Bucknum diverted approximately $30.39 million from CCN between 2017 and 2023 for personal investment ventures, originally planning to repay the funds with returns. He repaid roughly $7.36 million, resulting in a net loss of $23.03 million tied to the investment strategy.
The misappropriations extended beyond the investment ledger. Prosecutors noted Bucknum used CCN capital to acquire a Tesla sedan, a recreational boat, a Chevrolet Silverado electric truck, and nearly $1.2 million in gold bullion.
To mask the outflows, he shifted funds across multiple accounts, submitted inflated financial reports, and submitted altered bank statements. His legal team acknowledged that financial records had been adjusted to obscure declining reserve balances.
“From 2017 to 2024, he engaged in a deliberate and systematic course of conduct that caused significant financial harm to CCN,” his attorneys wrote in sentencing materials.
Defense attorneys emphasized Bucknum’s proactive disclosure to federal authorities—made in October 2024—before an investigation formally began. They pointed to his prior military service in the Marine Corps, clean record, professional achievements, and commitment to full repayment as mitigating factors.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Bucknum could have continued the scheme undetected for years, noting he had initially weighed confessing as far back as 2019 but continued withdrawing funds in subsequent years. Still, they gave weight to his timely self-reporting, early guilty plea, and cooperation in recovering misused assets—contributing to a sentence modestly below the advisory cap.
Bucknum held the position of stake president for the Wenatchee, Washington, congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2019. Church records indicate his installation occurred in April of that year, with his successor taking office in October.
The defense presented seven letters attesting to Bucknum’s character, six of which highlighted his involvement in religious community life. These submissions came from former leaders, congregants, and friends who participated in service activities alongside him. While several authors acknowledged the gravity of his actions, they encouraged the court to weigh his extensive history of service against the charges.
Hal Hunsaker, who served as Bucknum’s ecclesiastical superior from 2010 to 2019, noted that Bucknum had previously acted as a bishop, providing counsel to individuals in crisis and assisting families with special-needs children in locating therapeutic resources. Hunsaker explicitly stated that he did not approve of the defendant’s behavior.
Douglas Clay, a former counselor in a church presidency that oversaw 13 congregations, recounted Bucknum’s volunteer efforts, which included assisting with roofing repairs on Clay’s properties. Other correspondents, including a local resident who shared church duties and volunteer clinic work with Bucknum, as well as a friend who aided him during a wildfire evacuation, described their collaborative experiences. A former congregant recalled receiving spiritual guidance and family ministry from Bucknum, while a longtime friend detailed their shared service history.
John Donaghy, who had known Bucknum in both his roles as bishop and stake president, cited a roof replacement project and professional mentoring as examples of his contributions. Donaghy also addressed the breach of confidence inherent in the case, noting that the defendant’s conduct damaged the trust of many, including himself. Conversely, a former colleague from Columbia Valley Community Health emphasized Bucknum’s professional track record, crediting him with mentoring staff and broadening healthcare access.
The court’s judgment requires Bucknum to surrender his interest in specific assets, including funds held in a Chase bank account, a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV, a 2021 Tesla Model 3, a Cobalt boat with trailer, and a collection of gold, platinum, and silver coins. Additionally, the ruling imposes a forfeiture judgment of $24,368,427.37, which is distinct from the restitution order.
Judge Rice did not impose a fine, instead ordering a special assessment of $100. Prosecutors had not requested a fine, arguing that any funds exceeding Bucknum’s basic living expenses should be directed toward repaying the victim, CCN.
Under the terms of the judgment, Bucknum is required to pay a minimum of $50 per quarter toward his monetary penalties while incarcerated. Upon entering supervised release, his payments must increase to the greater of $500 per month or 10% of his net household income, commencing 30 days after his release. Prosecutors indicated that, absent an unexpected financial gain, Bucknum would likely be unable to fully repay CCN, despite his efforts to return assets.