Three Top Administrators Accused of Orchestrating Massive Payroll Theft at Obion County Nursing and Rehab
UNION CITY, Tenn. — A years‑long pattern of falsified time sheets, inflated leave balances, and manipulated retirement contributions led to more than $561,000 in direct payroll theft and over $50,000 in unearned benefits at Obion County Nursing and Rehab, according to a Tennessee Comptroller investigation released July 1, 2026.
The report identifies three central figures:
- Briana Workman, former Social Services Director
- Jade Eakes, former Human Resources Director
- Donna Childress, former Interim Administrator
Investigators concluded that the trio systematically exploited weak oversight and took advantage of their control over payroll, leave accounting, and retirement reporting.
How They Did It: A Coordinated Payroll Scheme
Briana Workman — $248,670.90 misappropriated
Workman, who handled payroll for nearly two years, allegedly fabricated 3,160.5 hours of regular and overtime work, claimed 1,514.5 hours of holiday leave she wasn’t entitled to, and paid herself 616 hours of vacation she never accrued. She also awarded herself three unauthorized raises and processed lump‑sum payouts as large as $3,000 per paycheck.
Investigators found she bypassed the required time‑clock system, manually entering hours that allowed her to be paid while not present.
Jade Eakes — $192,453.21 misappropriated
Eakes, who previously ran payroll, allegedly claimed 2,805 hours she didn’t work, took 1,783.5 hours of improper holiday leave, and paid herself 552 hours of unearned vacation. She also received an unauthorized raise and admitted to investigators: “I knew I was getting too much money.”
Donna Childress — $120,165.41 misappropriated
Childress, the interim administrator, allegedly claimed 366 hours not worked, took 826 hours of improper holiday leave, and paid herself 669 hours of unearned vacation. She also issued herself four unauthorized bonuses totaling nearly $2,000 each.
Retirement Fraud: Inflated TCRS Contributions
The trio also overstated their mandatory retirement contributions, causing the nursing home to remit inflated payments on their behalf:
- Workman: $7,109.88 misappropriated
- Eakes: $5,159.83 misappropriated
- Childress: $6,937.73 misappropriated
They reported full 5% contributions while actually contributing between 1.8% and 2.1%, pocketing the difference.
Ripple Effects: Nearly $200,000 in Improper Payments to Other Employees
Because Workman controlled leave balances, 28 employees received $194,632.21 in improper vacation, holiday, and sick‑leave payouts. Many employees never knew their balances were wrong because Workman refused to provide them.
Grand Jury Indictments
On June 29, 2026, the Obion County Grand Jury indicted:
- Briana Workman — Theft of Property over $250,000
- Jade Eakes — Theft of Property over $60,000
- Donna Childress — Theft of Property over $60,000
All three are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Likely Outcome
Given the documented paper trail, the scale of the losses, and the defendants’ direct control over payroll systems, prosecutors will likely pursue restitution and felony convictions. Theft over $250,000 carries one of Tennessee’s most severe property‑crime penalties. If convicted, Workman could face 8–30 years in prison, while Eakes and Childress could face 8–12 years each under state sentencing guidelines.
The Comptroller’s Office reports that the nursing home board has begun correcting internal control failures, but the financial and legal fallout from the scheme will likely continue for years.