Woman deposited nearly $100K in checks mailed to chiropractor's office into her own account

Carolyn Hooke, an employee at Franks Chiropractic Center in Cobb County, Georgia, stole over $98,000 from the practice between November 2024 and December 2025 by intercepting at least 26 checks mailed to the office—primarily from attorneys for personal injury cases and insurance companies—and depositing them directly into her personal account. Working in a role that gave her access to incoming mail, Hooke cleverly diverted these payments before they could reach the practice's books, exploiting the trust placed in her position without involving credit cards or personal data.

The theft came to light when another employee noticed Hooke's signature on the back of one of the checks, prompting an investigation by Smyrna Police. Hooke was arrested last month on charges of theft by taking and released on a $55,220 bond from Cobb County Detention Center. Practice owner Dr. Christopher Brooks emphasized the shock of the betrayal, noting the checks were straightforward payments with no digital trail. This case underscores critical lessons for healthcare practice owners: implement strict mail handling protocols with dual oversight, regularly reconcile bank statements against expected payments, conduct random audits of incoming funds, and foster a culture of accountability to detect such insider threats early.