A Wyoming hospital technician reportedly admitted stealing over $63,000 worth of Ricoh toner, highlighting ongoing weaknesses in institutional consumables procurement.
A Wyoming hospital technician has pleaded no contest to stealing more than $63,000 (approximately €58,000) worth of Ricoh toner, in a case that highlights ongoing weaknesses in institutional consumables procurement.
According to Carbon County District Court records, 42-year-old Justin David Schwinck of Rawlins entered a no contest plea on 5 May 2025. The court accepted the plea the same day, convicting Schwinck of felony theft “pursuant to a common scheme.” Sentencing is scheduled for 4 August 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in Rawlins, Wyoming.
The thefts occurred over a prolonged period during Schwinck’s employment at Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, where he used his position to obtain and divert large quantities of Ricoh USA toner cartridges for personal gain. The stolen cartridges were resold through a storefront account on eBay, a detail confirmed in court filings.
Hospital staff raised concerns in late 2022, prompting an internal audit and a police investigation. Schwinck was charged in October 2024. Ricoh USA cooperated with authorities, providing account data to help establish the scale and value of the losses.
Schwinck entered the plea under a formal agreement with prosecutors, which set sentencing parameters but left the final decision to the court. No substance abuse factors were raised, and the court continued his bond, requiring full cooperation with probation services.
Schwinck is expected to repay the affected parties approximately $86,000 in restitution. The Wyoming Department of Corrections is preparing a Presentence Investigation Report that will include sentencing recommendations, prior offence history, and any probation conditions.
The case underscores persistent vulnerabilities in institutional procurement, particularly where high-value consumables like toner are involved and oversight remains weak.
