Butler faces 28 counts

Former senior living director indicted on fraud, drug charges

 

Former owner of Senior Lifestyles, Stephanie Butler, has been indicted on 28 charges by the Putnam County Grand Jury.

The indictment also lists Brian Fitzhugh Richey, a licensed nurse practitioner. Richey turned himself into the Putnam County Jail this morning.

According to a release from District Attorney General Bryant Dunaway, the investigation began in February, following multiple reports of criminal behavior.

Butler faces charges of conspiracy to obtain controlled substances by fraud, obtaining controlled substance by fraud, conspiracy to commit financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable adult, financial exploitation, 11 counts of financial exploitation (A only), theft over $2,500 (A only), 4 counts of identity theft, 6 counts of money laundering and tampering with evidence.

According to the indictments, Butler obtained or acquired possession of residents' controlled substance medication by misrepresenting that the medication would be destroyed.

The count of committing financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable adult reportedly happened between December 2017 until May 2018, when Senior Lifestyles was initially raided by TBI agents.

Charges date back to 2016, alleging that Butler reportedly deprived patients of property, medication and knowingly financially exploited them while acting as their caregiver.

Butler also reportedly violated the Identity Theft Victim's Rights Act of 2004, and used, possessed, bought or obtained the personal information of numerous patients. After knowing an investigation was pending, Butler reportedly destoyed or concealed prescription medication packages.

The investigation discovered a total of 16 victims. Butler is now in the Putnam County Jail with a $150,000 bond.

Richey has charges of conspiracy to obtain controlled substance, obtaining controlled substances by fraud, conspiracy to commit financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable adult and financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable adult.

According to the indictment, Richey used his professional license as a way to provide and prescribe excessive amounts of controlled substances. Richey also reportedly prescribed victims controlled substances to numerous residents at Senior Lifestyles.

Richey reportedly became aware that Butler was diverting medication from patients and did not act to intervene, and continued to prescribe controlled substances.

Butler, on at least one occasion, provided Richey with controlled substances, from a resident of Senior Lifestyles, for his personal use.

Richey had a bond of $40,000.

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Butler faces 28 counts