3 UGA clinic employees charged, accused of accepting bribes

Amy Stowers (from left), Rita Melville, Jamie Fay Coley

Amy Stowers (from left), Rita Melville, Jamie Fay Coley

Three employees of the University of Georgia’s vision clinic were arrested after investigators accused them of taking bribes from vendors, according to a police report.

Amy Stowers, Rita Melville and Jamie Fay Coley were each taken into custody in connection with the investigation.

Police said Stowers, who managed the University Health Center Vision Clinic, orchestrated the bribery scheme. According to the police report, she made a “prohibited” agreement with an optical vendor, who was not named. The vendor would give her gift cards, and in exchange she would lead the vendor to believe it would “influence the performance of her official duties,” the report said.

Stowers received about $2,550 in gift cards from the vendor, police said.

As part of the same agreement, Melville and Coley, who were opticians in the clinic, received $348 and $404 in gift cards, respectively.

The funds stemmed from the sale of eyewear frames, the report said. The women were able to convert the proceeds for personal use.

Stowers is facing four counts of felony bribery, while Coley and Melville each face six counts of misdemeanor theft by conversion.

Stowers was booked into the Clarke County Jail on Wednesday and released the following day on a $44,400 bond. Coley and Melville were both booked into the jail Friday morning and released the same day on $10,100 bonds.

Stowers and Coley are no longer employed by the university, spokeswoman Rebecca Beeler confirmed. It’s not clear if they were fired or resigned.

Melville is on administrative leave, Beeler said.

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