Jonathan Dunning

Jonathan W. Dunning (born c. 1963) is the former CEO of Birmingham Health Care (now Alabama Regional Medical Services) and founder of the Synergy Companies. He was convicted in 2016 on 98 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering related to contracts his for-profit businesses held with non-profit healthcare organizations.

Dunning grew up in Tarrant, the son of a steel worker. He worked in his uncle's convenience store as a young man. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was trained as a forward air controller. After leaving the military, Dunning earned master's degrees in business and education while working as a substance abuse counselor at a federally-subsidized medical center. He later assisted the center in obtaining grants and continued with the organization until he was promoted to CEO.

Dunning founded the first of several private for-profit companies in 2005. As CEO of Birmingham Health Care, Dunning negotiated the purchase of a building, called the Medical Plaza, for $2.6 million. He later negotiated the sale of that building to his own Synergy Real Estate, for $2.8 million.

In 2008 Dunning resigned from Birmingham Health Care and diversified his business into a number of related companies including Synergy Medical Solutions, Legacy Consulting Group, Drake Hogan Pharmacy and Dunning Partners Ltd. He also took over Birmingham Financial Federal Credit Union. Synergy Medical Solutions handles billing, real estate, and healthcare management services to medical offices. Dunning Partners operates the La Dolce Vita and Villagio Italian restaurants in Hoover.

Dunning's role in steering funds from his two non-profit community health centers, Birmingham Health Care and Central Alabama Comprehensive Health in Tuskegee, to his for-profit businesses came under scrutiny from federal prosecutors. He was ultimately charged with unlawfully diverting more than $14 million and thereby supporting a lavish personal lifestyle from grants intended to provide health care to the poor. He was indicted by a grand jury on 112 counts in November 2014. He was arrested on February 2, 2015 and ultimately convicted in June 2016 on 98 of those counts before U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein. His successor, Jimmy Lacey was also named as an unindicted co-conspirator before he died in December 2015. Others convicted as part of the scheme include former chief financial officer Terri Mollica; former bookkeeper Sheila Osborne Parker; and her son, James Parker, who all pleaded guilty.

Publications

• Dunning, Johnathan (2007) Who's Mack Oliver. BookSurge Publishing. ISBN 141965117X

References

• Oliver, Mike (May 22, 2016) "Questions linger as $14 million health fraud trial of Jonathan Dunning begins Monday." The Birmingham News
• Faulk, Kent (June 8, 2016) "Former child computer whiz testifies about company formed with former Birmingham Health Care CEO." The Birmingham News
• Steere, Tim (June 17, 2016) "Former Birmingham Health Care CEO found guilty of fraud." Birmingham Business Journal

External links

• Jonathan Dunning website