MORRISTOWN — The former business manager
of an assisted living facility for senior citizens was indicted on
charges she stole $237,258 from a woman under her care.
Marcella
Drakeford, 45, of Jensen Beach, Florida, was arrested Wednesday
following her indictment March 16 on six counts of mail fraud by a
federal grand jury in New Jersey.
The indictment
alleges Drakeford stole from a client identified as C.B. by defrauding
her using the U.S. Postal Service. According to court documents,
Drakeford deposited "matters and things" sent and delivered by private
and commercial interstate carriers. Each count of mail fraud carries a
maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison upon conviction.
The indictment, announced in a release from Craig
Carpenito, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, does not
identify the Morristown assisted living facility where Drakeford
formerly worked as business manager. But newsletters distributed by
Spring Hills-Morristown Assisted Living in 2016 and 2017 list Marcella
Drakeford as business manager of the facility on Spring Place. A call
to Executive Director Karen Griffiths was not immediately returned
Wednesday.
According
to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Drakeford in December 2016 allegedly
agreed to help manage C.B.'s financial affairs and pay for her care.
Drakeford was given limited access to the victim's checking account, but
without the knowledge of the victim or her guardian, Drakeford already
had fraudulently gained access to C.B.'s credit card account and had two
cards issued in her name, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Drakeford
allegedly used the credit cards to buy clothes, jewelry and cars and to
travel, pay her rent and utilities and have dental work done, according
to the Attorney's Office. She paid off the credit card bills with
checks drawn on the victim's checking account, according to the
indictment. The theft was calculated at $237,258 between October 2016
and May 2017, according to court records.
Court
records show property Drakeford bought with the alleged stolen funds is
subject to forfeiture to the government. The age of the victim was not
included in the release.
After her arrest in
Florida, Drakeford appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek M.
Maynard in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida. Her arraignment on the
indictment is scheduled for April 4 before U.S. District Judge
Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court.
Full Article & Source:
Former Morristown assisted-living facility manager charged with $237K theft
I am glad she has been arrested and she should get a stiffer punishment because she took advantage of the elderly.
ReplyDeleteShe was the Practice Manager in Florida, where I worked. She is one of the Nastiest, Meanest people I have ever know, Crooked as the day is long. I, along with my co-workers are waiting to see what elderly patients she has scammed here. I Pray she get's the Justice she deserves in NJ.
ReplyDeleteI plan to attend.
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