'Cash cows’: The secret senior trafficking playbook for exploiting Maryland's elders

by GARY COLLINS

Daniel Jenkins was found dead on Edison Highway in East Baltimore on March 3, 2019, four days after he was placed in an unlicensed assisted living home. He was 85. (Zackary Lang/Spotlight on Maryland)

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Daniel Jenkins, 85, was found dead on a desolate stretch of East Baltimore’s Edison Highway on March 3, 2019. He had dementia, according to court records, and was likely confused and cold on that frigid, winter day.

Four days earlier, Jenkins had been placed into Asa Ene Ita’s unlicensed assisted living home on North Luzerne Street in Baltimore after its operator claimed the vulnerable adult would be safe.

Instead, Jenkins wandered from the house unnoticed, unmissed and unreported for more than 12 hours, according to a guilty-plea statement of facts filed by then-Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh’s office and agreed to by Ita.

When his daughters repeatedly called the unlicensed home for updates, the operator and its employees assured the family he was “fine,” “adjusting,” and “out with staff.” But Jenkins had vanished into the cold. An autopsy determined his cause of death to be hypothermia.

The case provides a window into unlicensed assisted living facilities that Spotlight on Maryland continues to investigate. It’s one of the few cases brought in Maryland against unlicensed operators, despite hundreds of complaints. The prosecution offers a view of what two former state officials describe as a “playbook” behind a hidden but growing industry.

Both experts warned that the pattern of deception, financial exploitation, neglect, and quiet coordination among people who see older adults as commodities in a booming underground market is getting worse.

An industry with an informal playbook

“Definitely, definitely it is happening and in every state,” said Anna Thomas, executive director of the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions and one of the nation’s foremost experts on human trafficking of seniors. “It is underreported, under the radar, and traffickers have a well-oiled machine we just can’t get our hands around.”

Thomas, who helped pioneer anti-trafficking enforcement models in Georgia, said what’s unfolding in Maryland mirrors a pattern she has been seeing nationwide. She was also the technical advisor for a 2023 Maryland law that made operating an unlicensed assisted living facility, where abuse or neglect occurred, a felony.

This playbook’s “commodity,” she said, consists of older adults — especially those with dementia, disabilities, facing homelessness or lacking family advocates — who are “funneled” into unlicensed homes run by individuals posing as caregivers. 

Anna Thomas is the executive director of the National Center for State and Tribal Elder Justice Coalitions and one of the nation's foremost experts on senior trafficking. She was a technical advisor for a 2023 Maryland law that made it a felony to operate an unlicensed assisted living facility. (Zoom)

Once inside, Thomas said, the victims enter an often-inescapable loop. “It is like an underground network,” she said. “Once they’re in, it’s really hard for them to get out.”

Thomas described traffickers trading seniors between homes the way people would “tradebaseball cards,” upgrading for residents who bring higher monthly income from Social Security, disability benefits, food assistance, or Medicaid.

They see these individuals as cash cows,” Thomas said. “One person might bring $700if they pack 10 to 15 people in a house, that’s thousands of tax-free dollars."

In Jenkins’ case, court records show that Ita kept more than 100 prescription vials in her care — most were full — belonging to residents of her two unlicensed assisted living homes. Many were medications that should have been taken daily for chronic conditions.

Ita’s workers, according to witness statements, were paid $50 a week under the table and lived in the same house as the residents they were expected to supervise. Spotlight on Maryland visited a Baltimore home owned by Ita, according to public records, and contacted her by phone, but could not reach her. Ita’s previous employees could not be immediately located.

“It is a form of racketeering,” Thomas said. “If you look at the structure, the money flow, the exploitation, it is a trafficking enterprise.”

How seniors are recruited into the shadow system

The critical question of how people like Jenkins end up in unlicensed facilities revealed another part of the trafficker playbook.

Operators recruit from homeless shelters, hospitals, day programs, jails, churches and even public benefits offices, Thomas said. Some pose as social service professionals. Others sit in waiting rooms or lobbies, handing out cards and offering rides, beds, and care.

They will recruit anywhere,” Jenkins said. “They have no morals. They show up and say, ‘I’m a good person. I can take them into my home.’ And people believe them."

In Jenkins’ case, a family friend who worked at his adult day program unwittingly became part of that funnel. She met Ita at the facility where Jenkins received daily care. Ita told the family friend she had staff, experience, and beds available, and had previously told Jenkins’s daughters she could provide the dementia care he needed, according to prosecutors.

The attorney general’s case later proved the promise false. Ita pleaded guilty to two counts of abuse of a vulnerable person, receiving five years in prison with three years suspended.

Maryland’s system not built to detect or stop senior trafficking

Dorinda Adams, former director of the Maryland Office of Adult Services, spent 22 years overseeing Adult Protective Services statewide — from 1999 to 2021. She told Spotlight on Maryland that state systems are not designed to identify an operation like this early enough.

“Navigation of our systems is a challenge,” Adams said. “People don’t know who to call. They don’t know what questions to ask. And sometimes we think sending someone to a website is enough, but it’s not.”

Adams said the sprawling landscape of state agencies, ranging from the Maryland Department of Aging, Social Services, the Office of Health Care Quality, and local case management offices, is overwhelming even for professionals.

Unlicensed assisted living homes, Adams said, “fly under the radar” because state agencies lack the staffing capacity to track them proactively.

Recalling cases from her tenure, Adams said surveyors sometimes found 14 to 20 seniors living in a basement, conditions that were similarly reported in unlicensed assisted living homes statewide during her career.

These facilities are making money by not providing care,” Adams said. “People are left unattended. They’re not fed. They’re not given medication. They’re stripped of their dignity."

Worse, she added, many seniors in these facilities “don’t have anyone advocating for them,” making them especially easy to exploit.

A prosecution that shows the entire playbook

Frosh’s case against Ita showed almost every hallmark of the trafficking described by Thomas and Adams. Court records showed the following:

• Targeting a vulnerable elder. Jenkins had dementia and required supervision. Ita knew this.
• Recruiting through a trusted intermediary. A familiar adult day care worker recommended Ita’s facility to Jenkins’s family.
• No contract, no oversight, no license. The family paid by money order after telling staff, “Take care of my daddy,” according to the plea document.
• Isolated living conditions. Multiple vulnerable adults lived in a crowded room with untrained staff.
• Locking residents inside. Witnesses told investigators they were told to lock doors to keep Jenkins from leaving.
• Medication control and financial exploitation. Police recovered more than 100 bottles of residents’ medication in Ita’s car, with many unopened.
• Delayed reporting. Even after Jenkins went missing in cold temperatures, Ita told his daughters he was “fine” and “would be back soon.”
• A preventable death. Jenkins died outside, alone and cold.

“This is what happens when people are trafficked,” Thomas said. “They lose their voice, their freedom, and their care — all because someone is profiting off them.”

Why experts say senior trafficking is about to explode

Maryland’s aging population is expected to rise sharply. The state faces a severe shortage of affordable assisted living beds, mental health services, and safe housing for older adults. Hospitals are under pressure to discharge patients quickly. Many seniors are aging without strong family support.

It is the perfect storm,” Thomas said. “People have nowhere to go, and traffickers know that."

Adams agreed: “We as a community have to realize the accountability is on all of us. This is the first time in history that people are living this long. But the systems around them have not kept up.”

Is there a way out?

Both women said there is no single solution.

Awareness is the first step. Hospitals, shelters, and churches must know how to distinguish licensed facilities from unlicensed operators. Families must know where to find inspection reports and what red flags to look for. The public must understand that unlicensed assisted living homes are not “cheaper options” but potentially lethal.

“If you find one of these houses, don’t stop reporting until someone pays attention,” Thomas said.

Thomas and Adams said the outlook is grim without immediate action.

“It’s only going to get worse,” Thomas said. “Once you see one of these homes, you never forget it. You never forget the people inside.” 

Full Article & Source:
'Cash cows’: The secret senior trafficking playbook for exploiting Maryland's elders 

Clark County Employee Indicted For Stealing Money From The Estates Of Deceased County Residents

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Nevada

LAS VEGAS – A Clark County employee, who used her position with the County to gain access to the financial accounts of deceased Clark County residents, made her initial appearance in court today on a federal indictment that charged her with three counts of laundering the proceeds of her scheme to bilk the estates of the deceased residents for tens of thousands of dollars. 

According to allegations in the indictment, TinaTheresa Poto-Nunu was employed by the Clark County Public Guardian’s Office where she unlawfully gained access to the financial information of deceased Clark County residents whose estates were administered by the Clark County Public Administrator. According to the indictment, Poto-Nunu then used that information to gain access to the financial accounts of the deceased individuals and then fraudulently transferred money from those accounts to pay down a credit card account she used for her personal expenses such as travel and rent.

Poto-Nunu is charged with one count of money laundering and two counts of money transactions in criminally derived property. If convicted of all counts, the statutory maximum penalty is 40 years in prison and a $750,000 fine. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory for the IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Source:
Clark County Employee Indicted For Stealing Money From The Estates Of Deceased County Residents 

Attorney General Ellison files charges against man who financially exploited his mother

 

Chippewa County man diverted funds from elderly mother’s account for his own use while her nursing home bills went unpaid; case referred to AG Ellison from Chippewa County Attorney

December 9, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has charged Steven Berg with three counts of felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. From February 1, 2024 through March 2025, Berg, who served as a power of attorney and co-signor on financial accounts for his mother, M.B., used over $90,000 of M.B.’s money for purposes that did not benefit her. Berg’s scheme included arranging rides for M.B. from her nursing home to the bank that housed her accounts, where Berg would meet M.B. and withdraw thousands of dollars from M.B.’s account. While Berg used these funds for personal purposes, including paying his own property taxes, M.B.’s nursing home bills went unpaid. 

In July 2025, Chippewa County Attorney Matthew Haugen referred the case to Attorney General Ellison’s MFCU under Minnesota Statutes Sec. 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.”

“Everyone deserves to afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect, but all too often, financial exploitation robs older Minnesotans of those essentials,” said Attorney General Ellison. “The financial exploitation of vulnerable adults causes severe financial harm that threatens those adults’ ability to keep a roof over their heads, pay medical bills, and so much more. Additionally, these cases often involve a profound betrayal of trust, since that exploitation often comes from someone the vulnerable adult trusted to manage their finances. Steven Berg’s theft from and betrayal of his own mother is appalling, and my office and I will do everything in our power to ensure he faces justice for his crimes.”

The Montevideo Police Department, Chippewa County Social Services, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit all participated in the investigation of this case.  It is being prosecuted by AG Ellison’s MFCU.

Attorney General Ellison’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works to uncover, investigate, and prosecute individuals or organizations that steal from Medicaid and that exploit, neglect, or abuse vulnerable victims. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,078,704 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026. The remaining 25%, totaling $1,692,898 for FY 2026, is funded by the State of Minnesota.

Source:
Attorney General Ellison files charges against man who financially exploited his mother 

Amid $1.4B deficit, Maryland lawmakers vow to address unlicensed senior facilities

by TESSA BENTULAN

The Maryland Department of Health is headquartered at 201 W. Preston St. in Baltimore. (Zackary Lang / Spotlight on Maryland)

MARYLAND (WBFF) — Maryland lawmakers will return to Annapolis in January facing a projected $1.4 billion budget deficit, a challenge expected to dominate the 2026 legislative session. But some lawmakers say the state cannot afford to sideline another growing problem: the rise of unlicensed senior living facilities.

A Spotlight on Maryland investigation has found more than 115 suspected unlicensed assisted living facilities in Baltimore, with many older adults found living in substandard and sometimes unsafe conditions — often with no trained medical staff and little to no state oversight. Many residents end up in these homes in exchange for their Social Security or disability checks, a practice some attorneys have described as a form of senior “trafficking.”

Although Maryland passed a law in 2023 that made operating an unlicensed assisted living facility a felony, enforcement has lagged. Some homes continue to operate in violation of the statute, raising questions about whether regulators and prosecutors are using the tools available to them.

In interviews last week, three senior House lawmakers — Republican Del. Jason Buckel, Democratic Del. Bonnie Cullison and Republican Del. Jesse Pippy — all said they expect the issue to be taken up during the session despite the state’s fiscal constraints.

Spotlight on Maryland requested interviews with nine Democrats and four Republicans, all of whom are senior leaders in the House and Senate. The majority either did not respond to Spotlight on Maryland’s inquiry or declined because of prior commitments.

Cullison is a member of the majority party that has controlled the General Assembly for decades and the vice chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee, which handles nearly all health care–related legislation. She said she expects the topic of senior care to reemerge.

“The discussion will absolutely happen,” Cullison said. “One of the discussions we’re going to be having is enforcement.”

Enforcement has become the central bipartisan concern regarding unlicensed assisted living facilities. Maryland’s 2023 law strengthened penalties, but regulators have continued to identify unlicensed operations without meaningful intervention.

Buckel, the House minority leader, said state agencies and prosecutors need to act more decisively.

“What we have to do through the regulatory process and through the state’s attorney general’s office is say, ‘If we’ve identified these places today, we’re going after them tomorrow,’” Buckel said. He argued that consistent enforcement could deter future illegal operators.

Cullison said her committee hears concerns about senior care “every single session.” She said the core challenge is finding unlicensed facilities in the first place and then deciding how the state should enforce standards of care.

“It’s really complaint-based,” she said. “If we don’t know about a facility that is acting in this role, then there’s no way for us to be able to monitor them.”

Cullison also acknowledged the state is operating with limited health care dollars — constraints she said are partly driven by federal cuts.

“We’re going to be seeing cuts to Medicaid, increased costs for SNAP,” she said.

The state had a $5 billion surplus in January 2023 — more than $2 billion in the general fund and an additional $2.9 billion in the rainy day fund. Gov. Wes Moore shared this information with the public just days into his administration. That dwindled to a $3.3 billion budget deficit, which had to be balanced last year.

Lawmakers will again face another deficit when they head to Annapolis next month. Still, Cullison said the priority will remain on safety, even if the state does not currently have enough licensed senior living facilities to meet the demand.

“We’re going to do whatever we can to help [older adults],” she said.

That could mean considering interim or imperfect solutions, Cullison added.

“We want to make sure we are having the discussion that, at least, meets some of their needs,” she said. “Here’s an example: ideally, a senior would have their own room. It may be an example of some kind of compromise. I’m not saying this would happen, but part of the discussion might be we have to have two people in a room.”

Pippy, the House minority whip, expressed similar urgency while acknowledging that the budget deficit will take up a lot of time.

“It should have been addressed before. It appears the state has let down a lot of our senior citizens,” he said.

In his legislative career, Pippy has introduced a number of public safety bills and bills protecting vulnerable groups, including seniors.

“[The state budget] is going to be a lot, but we’re going to have to balance that with all these other priorities as well.”

As lawmakers prepare for the session, the question remains whether the General Assembly, already bracing for a prolonged debate over deep budget cuts, will commit the time, staff and resources needed to address the spread of unlicensed senior living facilities.

Spotlight on Maryland will monitor proposed legislation and committee hearings throughout the session. It will continue asking lawmakers how they plan to address the issue if it is not brought forward. 

Full Article & Source:
Amid $1.4B deficit, Maryland lawmakers vow to address unlicensed senior facilities 

Cullman woman arrested on multiple charges including elder exploitation

by ABC 33/40 

A Cullman woman was arrested following a Grand Jury indictment on several charges, including first-degree financial exploitation of an elderly person, illegal possession of a credit or debit card, second-degree theft of property, and attempted first-degree theft of property.

The Cullman Police Department said Verna Hammons Jackson was taken into custody on Dec. 5, 2025, near Main Ave SW and Katherine St., and transported to the Cullman County Detention Center.

The police department said the arrest follows an extended investigation led by Investigator Shannon Cheatwood and Officer Kyle Foshee, who dedicated extensive hours and effort to ensure the case was successfully brought forward. 

The police department expressed appreciation to the Cullman County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance and strong partnership throughout the investigation.

Full Article & Source:
Cullman woman arrested on multiple charges including elder exploitation 

Charlotte man fights plan to demolish grandmother’s home as she battles dementia

By Nora O'Neill

The house at 5701 Monroe Road sits beside county-owned land slated for Park and Recreation use. A Charlotte man is asking a judge to pause its demolition while he seeks guardianship over his grandmother, who has dementia. Screenshot via Google Street View

As Mecklenburg County prepares to demolish a Monroe Road house for a parks and recreation project, one man is racing the clock in court to save what he says is the only major asset of his nearly 90-year-old grandmother who has dementia.

“It’s against her wishes,” Tyler Dease said. “Everything screams, ‘stop, this is not right.’”

The home, located at 5701 Monroe Road, was sold to the county in May for $450,000, according to public records. The sale was completed through a power of attorney, a legal document that allows someone to act on another person’s behalf. County commissioners unanimously approved the purchase for Park and Recreation use.

But Dease said his grandmother, Joan Baker, has dementia and lacked the mental capacity to consent to the power of attorney that allowed her home to be sold. Baker is currently living with a family member since her house was sold.

“She can’t make a decision to save her life,” he said. “If Joan’s not mentally incompetent, why did somebody else sell her house?”

Baker had a stroke in 2016 and was later diagnosed with dementia, Dease said. He said her condition has only gotten worse, and she is often confused and unable to understand or make major decisions.

Now, Dease is seeking legal guardianship over his grandmother and has asked in Mecklenburg County Court for a judge to temporarily halt any demolition of the home while the court reviews her condition and the authority used to sell the home. Dease also filed a motion asking for a temporary restraining order to freeze the sale proceeds and suspend the authority under the power of attorney, according to court records.

“It’s just irreparable harm overall if her house is demoed. It’s her only asset,” he said.

But the judge has not yet acted on the request because the court paperwork has not been formally served to Baker, leaving no court order preventing demolition.

A hearing on whether Baker should be declared legally incompetent, the first major step toward guardianship, is scheduled for January. The court has appointed an attorney to represent Baker’s interests.

Meanwhile, demolition could legally happen at any time.

Dease said he first realized the demolition may happen soon when he drove past the home the week of Thanksgiving and saw some siding was removed. When he called the county’s permitting office, staff confirmed an active demolition permit had been issued.

The Monroe Road house sits next to land already owned by the county, where Park and Recreation officials are developing a new recycling center, Dease said. It is unclear exactly what the county will do with the land where Baker’s house sits, but Dease said he suspects it will become part of the project.

Dease said he has contacted county officials to explain that his grandmother had dementia and that court filings were underway. He said his goal was simple: slow things down long enough for a judge to review what happened.

“There’s a chance that this may not be a positive outcome,” Dease said. “At this point we’re just trying to make it aware that Joan Baker might not know what’s going on, and that the power of attorneys that are supposedly acting on her behalf can’t be legal because of her mental capacity.”

In an email to the Observer, a county spokesperson confirmed only that commissioners authorized the purchase of the parcel from Baker for Park and Recreation purposes. The county did not answer specific questions about the demolition timeline, pending court filings, or Baker’s mental capacity.

Dease said he does not believe the county knew about his grandmother’s dementia or the family’s legal concerns at the time of the sale. But with a guardianship case now pending, he hopes officials will voluntarily pause demolition before a judge can weigh in, especially given what the property – which sits near where his grandfather is buried – represents to his family.

“It’s very sad,” Dease said. “This isn’t just a house to us.” 

Full Article & Source:
Charlotte man fights plan to demolish grandmother’s home as she battles dementia

SFPD seeks help finding dog of elder abuse victim

by: Tor Smith 

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Investigators with the San Francisco Police Department are asking for the public’s help to find a dog named “Charlotte Rose” who they say ran away after being kicked by a suspect in an elder abuse case.

SFPD said officers responded Sunday at 3:32 p.m. in the area of Post and Leavenworth streets to investigate an assault that had just happened.

San Francisco police said they located a 65-year-old victim at the scene who was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.

“Officers were advised that the assault occurred after an unknown suspect briefly interacted with the victim. During the interaction the suspect kicked the victim’s dog, and the dog ran away,” said police in a news release.

“Charlotte Rose”, who is microchipped and pictured below, was reportedly last seen walking southbound on Leavenworth Street.

Photos courtesy of San Francisco Police Department.

Anyone with information on the dog’s whereabouts is urged to call SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text TIP411, starting the message with “SFPD.”

Full Article & Source:
SFPD seeks help finding dog of elder abuse victim 

Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Will Reportedly End This Year

By Zayna Allen

Attorney Joe Tacopina says Wendy Williams should be freed from her court-ordered guardianship before year’s end. The high-powered lawyer told “Nightline” Monday that guardianship attorneys have assured Williams she will be “out of guardianship” by December 31.

A Fight for Freedom for Wendy Williams

Williams has been under guardianship since 2022, when her bank froze her accounts and raised concerns she was “a victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.” The court appointed Sabrina Morrissey to oversee her finances and personal welfare. 

In 2023, Williams was reportedly diagnosed with Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and primary progressive aphasia. But Williams has consistently denied those findings. On “The View,” she declared, “I don’t want Sabrina, period. … It’s been over three years. … It’s time for my money and my life to get back to status quo.” She also said she’s alcohol-free and ready to resume control over her affairs.

Her attorney’s recent announcement follows a new medical evaluation that — according to him — concludes Williams does not have FTD. He told “Nightline,” “[Williams] does not have frontotemporal dementia, so that should be game, set, match.”

Tacopina said that guardianship attorneys are “watching and waiting” and expect the guardianship to end by year’s end. He added that if the court refuses to end the guardianship, his team will seek a jury trial. 

The possibility of restoring Williams’ autonomy has drawn renewed attention to her living situation, which she has criticized as restrictive. In past statements she described her memory-care facility as a “dump,” and said she felt isolated, unable to control her phone, visitors or daily schedule.

If the guardianship ends as Tacopina promises, Williams could regain control over her finances and make independent decisions about her life. Her legal team appears prepared — whether through voluntary release or a jury ruling — to push for full restoration of her rights. 

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams’ Guardianship Will Reportedly End This Year 

See Also:
Wendy Williams calls her $25K-a-month assisted living facility a 'dump' amid guardianship

Man accused of elder abuse after allegedly kicking his mother’s walker at Nashville apartment

The man reportedly kicked her walker and raised his fist as if he was going to hit her, according to the arrest affidavit.

By Danica Sauter 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A man was charged with elderly abuse after he reportedly kicked his mother’s walker and threatened her, according to an arrest affidavit.

On Nov. 2, officers were called to the 2500 block of 26th Avenue North for a domestic disturbance.

Officers spoke with the woman, who said her son, 51-year-old Antonio Crowell, came into her apartment screaming and yelling because her grandson didn’t refuel a vehicle after using it.

Crowell kicked her walker and raised his fist at her as if he was going to hit her, the affidavit said.

The woman said she feared he was actually going to hit her.

Crowell then grabbed his items and left his copy of the key at her house and left, according to the report. He reportedly also made threats about burning her house and vehicle, the affidavit says. 

Full Article & Source:
Man accused of elder abuse after allegedly kicking his mother’s walker at Nashville apartment