Okla. Doctor Accused of Swindling His Father Will Stand Trial

A Pawnee, Okla., doctor will stand trial on allegations he swindled money from his own father, Attorney General Drew Edmondson said.

Dr. William Edward Clymer, 53, was charged Dec. 13, 2005, in Pawnee County District Court with one felony count of financial exploitation by caretaker after an investigation by the attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Clymer allegedly filed a lawsuit on behalf of his father, Edward Keith Winston, after Winston was involved in a serious traffic accident in January 2002. In May of that year, Clymer transferred Winston to Southern Oaks Care Center in Pawnee, where Clymer worked as the facility’s medical director.

The state’s complaint against Clymer alleges he forged Winston’s signature on court documents to allow himself to be named Winston’s legal guardian. Clymer then allegedly reached a $1 million out-of-court settlement in the traffic accident lawsuit without Winston’s knowledge.

When Winston inadvertently learned of the settlement, he was provided with $22,000 from an escrow account. The remainder of the money had been transferred to accounts controlled by Clymer.

Clymer’s arraignment is set for 9:30 a.m., April 14, in Pawnee County District Court.

Edmondson’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has statewide jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute provider fraud and patient abuse and neglect in any Medicaid provider facility. Anyone with information regarding provider fraud or patient abuse can contact the Attorney General’s Office at (405) 521-4274 or (918) 581-2885.