Turner County man exploited out of $13,000, sheriff says

Tammy NeSmith Cole faces 26 exploitation of the elderly charges while daughter Kendra Hill faces four charges
ASHBURN — A newspaper carrier and her daughter were arrested last week on exploitation charges after Turner County authorities said they took advantage of a customer on the carrier’s route over the course of more two dozen visits, getting $13,000 from the customer.

Turner County Sheriff Andy Hester said that Tammy NeSmith Cole, 48, and her daughter, Kendra Hill, 26, misled a 94-year-old resident of the county who was on Cole’s newspaper route into believing they were in dire need of money and persuaded him to give them funds, making repeated visits.

 Cole was acting alone before her daughter joined in, Hester said.

“After they found out they could get money, they went back,” the sheriff said.

Hester did not release the name of the elderly man. Members of the man’s family reported the incidents after they noticed money missing from his account. Warrants were issued against the two women, who initially ran away but eventually turned themselves in on Sept. 29, Hester said.

Cole has been charged with 26 counts of exploitation of the elderly, while Hill has been charged with four exploitation of the elderly counts. By the time they turned themselves in, the pair had stolen $13,000 from the victim, Hester said.

“He was just a good man who had been taken advantage of,” the sheriff said.

Hill has since bonded out, while Cole was still in jail Monday on a probation hold, Hester said.

Cole had been an independent contractor who delivered The Albany Herald. Her contract has been terminated.

“The Albany Herald, like most newspapers, uses independent contractors to deliver the paper,” said Thom Bell, vice president, circulation, for Southern Community Newspapers Inc., The Herald’s parent company. “There is no reason that a carrier should ever ask a subscriber for money.

Full Article & Source:
Turner County man exploited out of $13,000, sheriff says