Ex-Philadelphia official accused of defrauding psych clinic

PHILADELPHIA -- A Philadelphia mental health clinic's board president has been charged with defrauding the nonprofit out of hundreds of thousands of dollars for her personal benefit.

Federal prosecutors say Renee Tartaglione was arrested Wednesday and charged with conspiracy, fraud and theft from the Juniata Community Mental Health Clinic, which offers mental health services to Medicaid patients.

They accuse Tartaglione, a former city elections official, of buying the nonprofit's buildings and charging exorbitant rents.

Prosecutors also accuse her of falsifying minutes and records to make it seem as if the board approved her actions.

She's the daughter of former City Commissioner Marge Tartaglione and sister of State Senator Christine Tartaglione.

No attorney information was available for Tartaglione. A phone listing for her husband, Carlos Matos, rang busy on Wednesday.