Saturday, March 23, 2024

Filmmaker Goes In Nursing Homes And Captures The Effect Music Has On Alzheimer’s Patients

By Malorie Thompson

Alzheimer’s disease can be devastating to those who are diagnosed with it, as well as to their friends and family members.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and that number is only expected to rise. Alzheimer’s disease kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Photo: YouTube/Rotten Tomatoes Indie

With it being so prevalent and having no cure, researchers and individuals are looking for ways to manage the disease and make patients more comfortable. 

To explore the effects that music has on Alzheimer’s patients, filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett went to nursing homes and filmed a short documentary called Alive Inside.

Photo: YouTube/Rotten Tomatoes Indie

The documentary follows Dan Cohen, the founder of the nonprofit Music & Memory, as he visits nursing homes and uses music to help patients combat memory loss and find a deeper sense of self.

The film offers a unique look at how those affected by the disease can use music as a form of therapy.

Photo: YouTube/Rotten Tomatoes Indie

Suffering from Alzheimer’s often means losing part of who you are as a person, but music might be able to help that and bring back a sense of self. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.

You can learn more about the documentary by watching the trailer below:

Full Article & Source:
Filmmaker Goes In Nursing Homes And Captures The Effect Music Has On Alzheimer’s Patients

Gadsden woman convicted for financial exploitation of her mother

Gina Cook Gilbert, 63.(Source: Etowah County Sheriff's Office)

By WBRC Digital Staff

ETOWAH COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the conviction and sentence of an Etowah County woman for financial exploitation of an elderly person.

Officials say 63-year-old Gina Cook Gilbert, of Gadsden, pleaded guilty Friday, March 22, to one count of first-degree financial exploitation of her elderly mother while she was the conservator of her financial accounts.

“Elderly citizens deserve to be protected and taken care of when they are unable to care for themselves without worrying that their caregiver is exploiting them,” said Marshall. “Unfortunately, this can even happen when the caregiver is a family member. We cannot allow those who take advantage of the elderly to go unpunished, and I will continue to fight to make sure we hold those accountable who have accepted the responsibility to care for another person.”

Officials said Gilbert had been made conservator over the financial account of her mother, Patricia Jerome, in October 2014. Less than four years after being appointed conservator over the account, it was discovered that Gilbert used her mother’s financial resources for her own personal expenses and breached her fiduciary duties in caring for her mother’s resources.

During a civil lawsuit concerning the conservatorship and the subsequent criminal investigation, Gilbert admitted that she was unable to account for more than $2.5 million of her mother’s financial resources. Although Gilbert repaid the stolen funds at the conclusion of the civil case, the victim of this crime, Patricia Jerome, passed away before she saw her daughter held accountable for taking advantage of her position as conservator, according to officials.

Gilbert was sentenced to five years in the Alabama Department of Corrections and ordered to serve two years of probation.

Full Article & Source:
Gadsden woman convicted for financial exploitation of her mother

Tree-trimming scammer faces 8 years in state prison

Joseph Tyler was also ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution to older Coloradans that he defrauded in the scam, which took place from February 2020 until October 2022


NEWS RELEASE
ATTORNEY GENERAL PHIL WEISER
**********************
DENVER — A Jefferson County District Court judge on Monday sentenced Joseph Tyler to eight years in state prison and ordered him to pay $23,000 in restitution to older Coloradans that he defrauded in a tree-trimming scam from February 2020 until October 2022.

Tyler’s sentence comes after he pleaded guilty to theft targeting at risk victims, a class three felony, and to theft, a class five felony. He and his wife, Amelia Marie Tyler, were indicted by the statewide grand jury in February 2023 on 51 counts for using deceptive tactics to commit financial fraud on vulnerable older Coloradans, including many who were over 80 years old, in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson, and Otero counties.

Amelia Tyler cooperated with prosecutors and was sentenced in January after she pleaded guilty to felony theft. She served a year in the Jefferson County jail and is currently on probation at an intensive residential program for three years. 

“The defendants defrauded dozens of older Coloradans when they promised tree-trimming or home repair services and then ran off with their money. These fraudsters are now being held accountable for their crimes. Our office remains committed to ensuring that individuals who perpetrate crimes against older Coloradans are held fully responsible for their actions,” Attorney General Phil Weiser said.

According to the grand jury indictment, the husband-wife team would show up at a residence to solicit tree-trimming or home-repair services for a set amount of money. Sometimes the homeowner paid in cash, but more often, they paid by check. The wife would then cash the check at the homeowner’s bank while the husband cut a few branches at the victim’s home. After cashing the check, the wife would return to pick up the husband before he completed most of the job. The defendants would then tell the homeowner that they needed to get something and would be back, but they rarely returned to the jobsite. At least 50 individuals were victims of the tree-trimming scam.

The case numbers are Joseph Camillo Tyler, 2023CR327 and Amelia Marie Tyler, 2023CR328.

Older Coloradans are frequently targeted by scammers with schemes that can cause financial harm, including the loss of one’s retirement savings and potentially even their home. AARP ElderWatch Colorado is a program with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and AARP whose mission is to fight the financial exploitation of older Coloradans through education and outreach, data collection, and the providing of assistance. Please visit the AARP Elderwatch website for additional information on how to recognize, refuse and report fraud and scams. Report fraud or scams by calling 1-800-222-4444 or filing a complaint at www.StopFraudColorado.gov.

Full Article & Source:
Tree-trimming scammer faces 8 years in state prison

Friday, March 22, 2024

Los Angeles County’s Abuse People on Mental Health Conservatorships; Plus the Failure of Police Training


A recent report by Disability Rights California reveals widespread neglect and abuse of people in Los Angeles County held under mental health conservatorship. In LA County last year, over 800 people were held in jail or locked in psychiatric units longer than they needed to be. According to Michelle Kotval, senior staff attorney at Disability Rights California, this issue is especially harmful for people placed in LPS (mental health) conservatorships by the County because their right to make decisions about their own lives are taken from them.

Full Article & Source:
Los Angeles County’s Abuse People on Mental Health Conservatorships; Plus the Failure of Police Training

CA Seeks Branding for 'Supported Decision-Making'

SCDD

California’s State Council on Developmental Disabilities is looking for a firm to run a branding campaign to boost the use of its “supported decision-making” program.

SDM helps people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, people with dementia, those with aging concerns, or anyone else who might need a bit of extra help understanding their options and making informed choices.

Its goal is to respect people’s rights and dignity, promote independence and prevent abuse or exploitation.

The selected firm will create a branding campaign to provide support, education, guidance, assistance and training to Californians who wish to use or expand supported decision-making in their professional or personal life.

It will handle social media activity to help the public learn about SDM, and connect with parents/family/self-advocate support groups on Facebook.

The Council will issue a contract to run from June 1 through July 2025. The pact may be extended for another six months. Responses are due April 19. They go to:

State Council on Developmental Disabilities
Attention: Hannah Dunham, SDM-TAP
3831 North Freeway Blvd. #125
Sacramento, CA 95834

Full Article & Source:
CA Seeks Branding for 'Supported Decision-Making'

Caregiver stole $150K from woman, 95, court says

A Massachusetts woman was in court Thursday, accused of defrauding a 95-year-old woman of about $150,000 while working for her as a personal care assistant.

Source:
Caregiver stole $150K from woman, 95, court says

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Examining Financial Fraud Against Older Adults


March 20, 2024
By Rachel E. Morgan, Susannah N. Tapp

The population of older adults has expanded. The percentage of persons age 60 or older in the United States increased by 33% from 2010 to 2020 and is expected to continue to grow.[1]

The Better Business Bureau reports that older adults[2] lose more than $36 billion to financial fraud every year.[3] According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, 105,301 cases of fraud against persons age 60 or older were reported in 2020.[4] In 2021, 128,216 offenses against persons age 65 or older were reported through the National Incident-Based Reporting System.[5] The actual number of fraud cases is unknown as many people do not report their victimization, and underreporting is especially high for older adults.[6]

Despite these facts, there is a lack of research on fraud victimization of older adults. To date, studies that examine financial fraud have not been nationally representative, suffer from small sample sizes, or only include victims who make a formal report. Some studies use varying definitions of fraud, which may or may not include identity theft. Additionally, these studies may have other methodological limitations that lead to a wide range in prevalence estimates.

To help fill this gap in the literature, this article presents findings from a nationally representative sample of persons age 60 or older who experienced personal financial fraud. Data came from the 2017 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) Supplemental Fraud Survey (SFS).

Review of the Literature

Financial exploitation of older adults — which generally includes improper use of funds, property, or resources of another individual — can be divided into two main categories: financial abuse and financial fraud. Individuals who know the victim and are in positions of trust (for example, family members or paid caregivers) commit financial abuse of older adults, which is also referred to as elder financial abuse. Strangers mainly commit financial fraud of older adults.[7] Most research to date has focused on financial abuse rather than financial fraud,[8] although some studies include both forms of financial exploitation. This article looks only at financial fraud.

Changes in the aging brain and declines in cognitive functioning (ranging from mild impairments to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia) make older adults more susceptible to scam and fraud.[9] Other risk factors include a lack of financial literacy,[10] social isolation, and loneliness.[11] Older adults also tend to be more trusting than younger adults and less able to recognize deceitful individuals.[12]

Research has consistently found that older adults are more likely to be targets of fraud than younger adults.[13] However, this does not necessarily mean a greater number of older adults are victims of financial fraud.[14] The 2016 Health and Retirement Study found that 34.8% of persons age 50 or older had been targeted by or had been the victim of a fraud or investment scam in the past five years.[15] Estimates of financial fraud victimization of older adults differ by the population studied, the definition of fraud used,[16] and the time frame considered; however, across studies, between 2.7% and 6.6% of older adults reported experiencing financial fraud in the past 12 months.[17]

The consequences of fraud victimization may be more severe for older adults than younger adults. Research found that they lose more money, on average, than younger victims.[18] Financial fraud of older adults is rarely handled through the criminal justice system. Older fraud victims are unlikely to report the incident to the police. Prosecutors and law enforcement may be less interested in pursuing legal action when the victim is an older adult, especially one who has cognitive difficulties.[19] Other correlates of financial victimization include poor psychological well-being,[20] depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, poor overall health,[21] and lower quality of life,[22] although the directionality of these relationships is not always known. Although higher rates of fraud are correlated with mental and physical health problems, experiencing fraud does not necessarily cause negative health outcomes. However, issues with physical and mental health could make individuals more vulnerable to fraud victimization.

Data and Methods

This analysis used data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) 2017 NCVS SFS. BJS is the nation’s primary source for criminal justice statistics, and the NCVS is the nation’s primary source of information on criminal victimization. Each year, the NCVS collects data from a nationally representative sample of approximately 240,000 persons in about 150,000 households. The NCVS collects information on nonfatal personal and property crimes reported and not reported to police, including data on the victim, the person who perpetrated the crime,[23] and incident characteristics.[24]

From October through December 2017, BJS administered the SFS to a nationally representative sample of persons age 18 or older in NCVS-sampled households. All NCVS and SFS interviews used computer-assisted personal interviewing, either by telephone or in person. Of the 66,200 NCVS-eligible respondents age 18 or older, approximately 51,200 completed the SFS questionnaire, representing a response rate of 77.3%.

The SFS collected individual-level data on the prevalence of seven types of fraud victimization: charity, consumer investment, consumer products and services, employment, phantom debt, prize and grant, and relationship and trust. Prevalence is defined as the number or percentage of unique persons who were victims of fraud at least once during the reference period. The SFS asked respondents whether they experienced the different types of fraud in the 12 months prior to the interview.[25]

The SFS instrument began with a series of questions on these seven types of fraud; these questions screened the respondent into the survey if they reported experiencing one or more eligible types of fraud victimization. Once a respondent screened in, the interviewer administered the SFS incident instrument to collect detailed information about the type of fraud victimization experienced. The incident instrument also collected data on the characteristics of victims and their patterns of reporting to the police and other authorities.

In addition to reporting a fraud victimization in the screener questions, respondents were classified as fraud victims if they reported that they did not get their money back in the transaction. This criterion fits the legal definition of fraud and provided sufficient sample sizes to produce statistical estimates.

If respondents reported experiencing more than one incident of the same type of fraud, the SFS asked them to think about the most recent incident that occurred in the last 12 months. This article defines older adults as persons age 60 or older, which is consistent with the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 and Older Americans Act of 1965.[26]

Results

In 2017, about 1.33% (929,570) of persons age 60 or older experienced at least one incident of fraud (see exhibit 1). There were no statistically significant differences between the percentage of persons age 60 or older and persons age 59 or younger who experienced fraud. This pattern held when examining by fraud type both for persons age 60 or older and for persons age 59 or younger.

Exhibit 1. Percentage of persons who experienced at least one incident of personal financial fraud in the past 12 months, by type of fraud and age of person, 2017.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Fraud Survey, 2017.

 Note: Estimates are based on the most recent incident for that fraud type.
* Comparison group.
a Consumer investment fraud is excluded due to too few sample cases, but it is included in total financial fraud. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Fraud Survey, 2017.

For estimates and standard errors, see appendix tables 1a and 1b.

Regardless of victim age, the most common type of fraud was consumer products and services fraud; about 65% of all fraud victims experienced it (see exhibit 2). Technology support scams, automotive repair scams, weight-loss product scams, and online marketplace scams are common examples of this fraud type.

Exhibit 2. Number and percentage of victims who experienced personal financial fraud, by type of fraud and age of victim, 2017.

 Number of victimsPercentage of victimsPercentage of all persons
Type of fraudAge 60 or older*Under age 60Age 60 or older*Under age 60Age 60 or older*Under age 60
Total financial frauda929,5702,109,630100.0100.01.331.21
Products and services604,2001,378,04065.065.30.860.79
Charity135,880206,07014.69.80.190.12
Phantom debt91,940204,6809.99.70.130.12
Prize and grant77,500186,1808.38.80.110.11
Relationship and trust48,600106,5805.25.10.070.06
Employment13,040!137,4201.4!6.50.02!0.08

Note: Estimates are based on the most recent incident for that fraud type. Numbers and percentages of victims do not sum to totals because persons could experience multiple types of fraud.
* Comparison group.
† Significant difference from comparison group at the 95% confidence level.
‡ Significant difference from comparison group at the 90% confidence level.
! Interpret estimate with caution. Estimate is based on 10 or fewer sample cases, or coefficient of variation is greater than 50%.
a Consumer investment fraud is excluded due to too few sample cases, but it is included in total financial fraud.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Fraud Survey, 2017.

For standard errors, see appendix table 2.

Data from the 2017 SFS show that 79.7% of fraud victims age 60 or older were non-Hispanic white persons, a significantly higher percentage than the 62.0% of all fraud victims who were non-Hispanic white persons (see exhibit 3). The percentage of victims age 60 or older who were never married (8.1%) was lower than the percentage of all victims who were never married (31.1%). However, the percentage of victims age 60 or older who were widowed (22.0%) was significantly higher than the percentage of all victims who were widowed (8.0%). There were no statistically significant differences by victim sex, household income, or location of residence in the percentage of victims of financial fraud of any age and those age 60 or older.

Exhibit 3. Percentage of all victims and victims age 60 or older who experienced personal financial fraud, by demographic characteristics, 2017.

Demographic characteristicsPercentage of all
victims age 60 or older*
Percentage of all victims
  Total100100
Sex
  Male43.845.2
  Female56.254.8
Race/Hispanic origina
  Whiteb79.762.0
  Blackb7.815.6
  Hispanic9.514.8
  Otherb,c3.0!7.6
Marital status
  Never married8.131.1
  Married46.741.5
  Widowed22.08.0
  Divorced or separated22.219.0
Household income
  Less than $25,00017.723.5
  $25,000-$49,99931.127.4
  $50,000-$99,99929.627.7
  $100,000 or more21.621.4
Location of residence
  Urband34.039.3
  Suburbane52.848.5
  Ruralf13.212.2

Notes: Estimates are based on the most recent incident of fraud. Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.
* Comparison group.
† Significant difference from comparison group at the 95% confidence level.
‡ Significant difference from comparison group at the 90% confidence level.
a There were no victims of personal financial fraud age 60 or older who were American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.
b Excludes persons of Hispanic origin (e.g., “white” refers to non-Hispanic white persons and “Black” refers to non-Hispanic Black persons).
c Includes persons who were Asian; Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander; American Indian or Alaska Native; and two or more races. Categories are not shown separately due to small numbers of sample cases.
d Within the principal city of a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
e Within an MSA but not in a principal city of the MSA.
f Not within an MSA.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Fraud Survey, 2017.

For standard errors, see appendix table 3.

Victims may not report a crime for a variety of reasons, including fear of reprisal or getting the person who perpetrated the crime in trouble, believing that nothing could or would be done to help, and believing the crime to be a personal issue or too trivial to report. About 1 in 5 (19%) fraud victims age 60 or older reported the incident to the police, and 84% of victims age 60 or older reported the incident to another person or group (see exhibit 4). Other people or groups that the victim may report the incident to include their family or friends; a bank, credit card company, or other payment provider; a state or local consumer agency; a lawyer; or a federal consumer agency.

Exhibit 4. Percentage of financial fraud victims age 60 or older who reported to police or other persons or groups, 2017.

Exhibit 4. Percentage of financial fraud victims age 60 or older who reported to police or other persons or groups, 2017.
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Fraud Survey, 2017. (View larger image.)

For standard errors and confidence intervals, see appendix tables 4a and 4b.

In total, fraud victims age 60 or older lost nearly $1.2 billion in 2017, and they lost an average of $1,270 (see exhibit 5). More than half (65%) of the total losses resulted from consumer products and services fraud. On average, consumer products and services fraud victims age 60 or older lost about $1,190, which was significantly more money than the amount lost by victims of charity fraud ($60).

Exhibit 5. Financial losses among victims age 60 or older who experienced at least one incident of personal financial fraud in the past 12 months, by type of fraud, 2017.

Type of fraudMeanMedianTotal lossesa
Total financial fraudb,c$1,270$200$1,161,716,270
Products and services*$1,190$200$756,075,010
Phantom debt$1,050$400$103,808,460
Prize and grant$490$100$44,310,710
Charity$60$30$10,844,140

Note: Estimates are based on the most recent incident of that fraud type. Details may not sum to totals due to rounding.
* Comparison group.
† Significant difference from comparison group at the 95% confidence level.
a The percentage of victims who experienced one type of fraud multiple times during the reference period varied from 1% to 6%. To account for these losses, the average loss for each type of fraud was added to the amount lost by the victim in the most recent incident and then added to total losses.
b Total financial losses are expected to be greater than the amounts shown in this table due to top coding, a procedure used to protect respondents from disclosure risk.
c Employment and investment fraud are excluded due to too few sample cases, but they are included in total financial fraud. Relationship and trust fraud is excluded due to unreliability of the estimate, but it is included in total financial fraud.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Fraud Survey, 2017.

For standard errors, see appendix table 5.

Those who lost the average amount of $1,270 or less were significantly less likely to report the incident to the police (13%) than those who lost more than $1,270 (47%). Victims who lost $1,270 or less were also significantly less likely to report the fraud to another person or group (82%) compared to victims who lost more than $1,270 (95%).

Fraud victims experience different socioemotional consequences. About a third (31%) of victims age 60 or older experienced moderate emotional distress (see exhibit 6). About 29% experienced mild distress and 27% experienced severe distress. One in 20 (5%) fraud victims age 60 or older reported experiencing relationship problems with friends or family because of the incident.

Exhibit 6. Percentage of victims age 60 or older who experienced socioemotional problems as a result of personal financial fraud, 2017.

Type of socioemotional problemPercentage of victims age 60 or older
Emotional distress
   None11.7
   Mild28.9
   Moderate30.6
   Severe26.6
Family/friend relationship problemsa4.6

Note: Details may not sum to total because victims could experience emotional distress and family/friend relationship problems. Excludes missing data, which accounted for 2% of fraud incidents.
a Includes experiencing significant problems with family or friends, such as having more arguments than before the victimization, an inability to trust, or not feeling as close after victimization.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Crime Victimization Survey, Supplemental Fraud Survey, 2017.

For standard errors and confidence intervals, see appendix table 6.

Implications and Conclusions

Prior research and data on fraud are limited by issues such as small sample sizes, nonrepresentative samples, and variations in the definition of fraud and types of crimes included. To date, many of the data have relied on statistics collected by the FBI. Despite limitations, these data are a useful source of information because the FBI consistently collects them, which provides an opportunity to report on trends over time. The FBI also collects data on the severity of the problem and types of fraud targeting older adults. Data from the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, for example, show that financial fraud of older adults is a growing problem both in terms of number of incidents reported and total dollars lost.[27]

However, based on the SFS data analyzed in this article, we know that statistics collected by law enforcement do not capture the complete picture. The SFS aims to address the need for nationally representative estimates of fraud, both reported and not reported to the police. The SFS complements the FBI data sources by including victims who do not report to the police. Additionally, the SFS reveals that the demographic profile of financial fraud victims age 60 or older differs from the profile of fraud victims age 18 or older. Future research on older adults who do not report their victimizations will also provide a more comprehensive picture of fraud in the United States.

Additional areas of research offer opportunities to examine the evolving nature of fraud victimization, including the intersection of fraud and cybercrime, and types of fraud that target older adults. These gaps in knowledge about financial fraud of older adults should be addressed through research in the future.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics defines and measures financial fraud and identity theft separately and collects data on each crime through separate National Crime Victimization Survey supplemental surveys. The primary distinction between the two crimes is whether respondents willingly provided personal information to the person who perpetrated the crime.

In the case of identity theft, victims’ personal information (for example, bank account information or Social Security number) is obtained and used without permission. For an incident to be classified as identity theft, victims must experience the misuse of an existing account, opening of a new account, or the misuse of personal information. Identity theft is like other types of theft, whereby victims’ information is taken without their knowledge, consent, or control. For more information, see https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/identity-theft-supplement-its.

For personal financial fraud — the focus of this article — victims willingly provide personal information but are deceived about what they will receive in return for that information. For an incident to be classified as a personal financial fraud, victims must be knowingly and intentionally deceived and lose money in the transaction. For more information, see https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/supplemental-fraud-survey-sfs.

Return to text.

Appendix Tables


Full Article & Source:
Examining Financial Fraud Against Older Adults

Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill accused of financial exploitation of 96-year-old woman

By Randi Hildreth

Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill is at the center of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) investigation about the alleged financial exploitation of a 96-year-old woman. 

In the court documents obtained by FOX 35, a state investigator claims Hill established power of attorney over the woman and allegedly went on to purchase a home with the woman listed as the co-owner without her approval.

Investigators say financial documents also show Hill used the woman's money to purchase things like a facelift, IV infusions, a New Year's Eve stay in Miami, car insurance, and dental surgery. The alleged transactions, the investigator says, exceeded $100,000 and "solely benefited Hill." 

Investigators say the 96-year-old woman has three homes — the home where she currently resides, a second home that was left to her by her family, and the third home allegedly purchased by Hill with the woman added as a co-owner. 

Court documents detail that Hill, her son, and her son's girlfriend allegedly lived in the properties. Hill is also accused of using money for substantial home repairs for the home she occupied. 

FDLE says the investigation started after a tip from Hill's former aide. 

"Any time we receive any kind of information about potential elder exploitation that may be occurring, we're going to take those allegations very seriously," said John Martino, Director of Advocacy for Community Legal Services. 

Attorney John Martino works with Community Legal Services. The firm is representing the elderly woman and her new Power of Attorney. 

They filed a petition for an injunction, which temporarily prohibits Hill from having direct or indirect contact with the woman as the investigation continues. 

"To put some protection in place while the courts figure out what's going on. While anyone who is investigating the matter figured out what's going on, and we can make sure that the senior citizen can continue to take care of themselves," said Martino. 

Commissioner Hill's office directed us to her attorney, Warren Lindsey, for comment. Fox 35 left a message with his office but has not heard back. 

In a Facebook post from Monday, Hill wrote: "Despite everything, I chose to spend some quality time with my grandbabies over a late-night discussion regarding the unsavory part of my political life and the world around us over a meal." 

Hill has not been charged in this investigation. The FDLE says the investigation is still active but has no additional information to provide. 

An evidentiary hearing is set for next week regarding the injunction set for March 27. 

The City of Orlando confirmed it is aware of the investigation but is not privy to any details. A spokesperson said the city also said the city does not have any authority to take disciplinary actions against an elected official.


Full Article & Source:
Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill accused of financial exploitation of 96-year-old woman

Cole County woman wanted for financial exploitation of an elderly person

by Shea Baechle

Holly Kliethermes is wanted for arrest on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, for the financial exploitation of her father-in-law. (Photo - File)

NEW BLOOMFIELD — A Cole County woman is wanted for arrest for the financial exploitation of an elderly person.

Holly Kliethermes is wanted for the financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, which is a Class B felony, according to court documents.

She has allegedly been exploiting her father-in-law from November 2021 to October 2023.

Click here to view the PDF file.

The exploitation began when her husband obtained the power of attorney over his father, and his father started living at a senior living center. 

Kliethermes and her husband were responsible for making payments on his father's behalf to the senior living center, but the home said they had not received hardly any payments from the couple and that when contacted their calls and emails had gone unanswered.

The couple's payments to the living center were roughly $55,000 overdue.

Staff members at the living center said some payments had been made on occasion, but not remotely enough to cover the father-in-law's monthly expenses, according to court documents.

She allegedly began using the victim's savings account money to pay for a bank visa card.

From November 2022 to July 2022, she had allegedly used $38,585.05 of the victim's money to pay for personal purchases, as well as cash two checks made to the father for an additional $3,400 and $241.29.

Bank records had shown purchases made at Sam's Club, Target, Walmart, and more from the father's account, but court records state that the victim was confined to the nursing home during those purchasing times.

Police found security footage from the stores listed in bank transactions to allegedly see Holly Kliethermes making the purchases.

Sheriffs spoke with Kliethermes regarding his father's funds being spent and the overdue balances, which he said he was aware of.

The son also confessed to cashing the two checks to his father but used them to buy the victim "goodies," according to court documents.

When the Sheriff discussed the over $72,000 that had been spent from his father's bank account, the man then blamed his wife.

Court records state that a Sheriff's Investigator spoke to the victim at the nursing home.

The victim stated his son was in charge of his nursing home bill, and that he was aware of his overdue balance.

However, the father said he hadn't seen his son in over six months and that he never permitted him to use his money for personal uses.

Nursing home staff were able to confirm that they had never seen the wife or husband bring anything to the victim and that they certainly did not bring anything for his father. 

Full Article & Source:
Cole County woman wanted for financial exploitation of an elderly person

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Wendy Williams’ ex-husband seeks two years of unpaid spousal support

The former TV host has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

By Samantha Kubota and Diana Dasrath

Wendy Williams' ex-husband Kevin Hunter is asking for nearly two years of unpaid spousal support from his ex-wife following her recent diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia and aphasia.

Williams’ ex-husband Kevin Hunter filed the motion in the New Jersey Superior Court on March 12. In it, his legal team argues Williams owes Hunter nearly two years of spousal support she has yet to pay following their 2020 divorce.

In the years following Williams and Hunter's split, the former TV host was diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia, her care team announced in a press release earlier this year.

"Ask Wendy" Book Release Party
Wendy Williams and her then-husband, Kevin Hunter at her "Ask Wendy" book release party on May 9, 2013, in New York City. Johnny Nunez / WireImage

“Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy’s ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions,” the release stated. “Receiving a diagnosis has enabled Wendy to receive the medical care she requires.”

Williams is reportedly currently living at a facility and receiving treatment for cognitive functioning, her niece Alex Finnie told People in February.

In the recent Lifetime documentary "Where is Wendy Williams?" Williams was seen having difficulty with cognition when she spoke to her staff and loved ones.

Williams currently has a court-appointed legal guardian who oversees her money and her health to avoid the potential for her to be exploited due to her cognitive issues, People reported.

In the court filings, Hunter says he has not received his spousal support payments since January 2022.

Celebrities Attend The New York Knicks Vs Brooklyn Nets Game - December 5, 2013
Williams and Hunter share one son, Kevin Williams Jr., who was born in 2000.James Devaney / WireImage

"This is an emergent matter because I rely on the severance pay for my living expenses and having been without this income for 23 months has affected me greatly," Hunter says in the filing.

Williams' team did not immediately respond to TODAY.com's request for comment.

Much has been made of Williams' monetary problems, which featured heavily in the Lifetime documentary.

In the film, which aired Feb. 24-25, Williams' manager, Will Selby, says the former TV host was given a guardian due to the state of her finances.

Wells Fargo froze Williams’ accounts and in its filing wrote that the bank has “strong reason to believe that (Williams) is the victim of undue influence and financial exploitation.” 

“It looked as if someone was nefarious, close to her. Who was the person taking advantage of Wendy?” Regina Shell, Williams’ friend, asked in the film.

An attorney representing Wells Fargo requested that the company’s petition be filed under a seal, according to a letter dated Feb. 9 obtained by NBC News.

Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams’ ex-husband seeks two years of unpaid spousal support

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Wendy Williams diagnosed with aphasia, frontotemporal dementia: What to know ahead of documentary release

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What's happening with Wendy Williams? From talk show no-show to 'incapacitated person'

 
 

SHOCK CLAIMS Wendy Williams’ bank calls her an ‘incapacitated person’ who is possible ‘victim of financial exploitation’ in lawsuit

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Wendy Williams’ Ex Sells House Amid Big Money Troubles

‘She was heavily medicated’: My cousin forced my elderly mother to sign over her share of the family home. What can we do?

by Quentin Fottrell

My grandfather passed and left his four kids each a one-quarter share of the family home. My cousin moved in and later threatened to sue my elderly mother for the repairs he made while living there or, he said, she could sign over her share of the house to him.

She signed out of fear and after she had just gotten out of the hospital, so she was heavily medicated, but mostly afraid. This man has since tried to force the other three family members to do the same thing. They all stood strong and didn’t sign.

They didn’t even know about my mom selling until he inadvertently let slip that she had deeded him her share. Does he actually own one quarter of this house or should his share revert back to my family? The property, if it matters, is in West Virginia.

The Good Cousin

“Unfortunately, in many cases of financial exploitation or of elder financial abuse, the victim is too afraid to speak up and tell friends or loved ones what happened.” - MarketWatch illustration

Dear Cousin,

Your mother did not have any protection when she was bullied, coerced and abused by your cousin, who forced her to sign over her share of the family home, but she does have protection under the law. His strategy for acquiring property, in an ideal world, should collapse like a house of cards.

Section 61-2-29b of the West Virginia legislature deals with the financial exploitation of an elderly person, protected person or incapacitated adult. “Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall, in addition to any other penalties at law, be subject to an order of restitution.

If the sum of money embezzled is more than $1,000, they are also guilty of a felony “and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000 and imprisoned in a state correctional facility not less than two nor more than 20 years,” the statute states.

A “protected person” is any adult 18 years or older who is found by a court, because of mental impairment, to be unable to process information effectively or to respond to such an extent that the individual lacks the capacity, according to the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.

As always, it is imperative to act swiftly. Unfortunately, in many cases of financial exploitation or of elder financial abuse, the victim is too afraid to speak up and tell friends or loved ones what happened. In some cases, they may not even be fully aware.

The statute of limitations varies by state; in West Virginia, the statute of limitations for cases of fraud is two years from the date on which the alleged crime was discovered or should have been discovered, and there is a 10-year cap from the date the alleged fraud occurred.

Unlikely perpetrators

In 2022, James Lindsay, a financial-exploitation attorney for Legal Aid of West Virginia and a leader in a statewide task force combating elder financial abuse, addressed the Children and Families Committee at the state legislature, as reported by WV Public Broadcasting.

He said that approximately half of the state’s 16,000 elder-abuse and elder-neglect cases involved financial exploitation by bad actors. “We’ve had engineers, bankers. These are trusted agents, consumers, friends, family, people who the elderly trust with their finances,” he said.

It’s vitally important to store documents and passwords — life-insurance policies, bank-account details, mortgage documents, etc. — in a safe place to prevent an abuser from accessing these accounts should your loved ones become incapacitated.

Perhaps most heartbreaking of all, as this study suggests: “Unlike physical abuse and neglect, financial abuse is more likely to occur with the tacit acknowledgment and consent of the elder person and can be more difficult to detect and establish.”

Signs of elder abuse

Typically, if you suspect someone of elder abuse — emotional, physical, psychological or financial — you should report them to adult protective services, or call 911 and report them to local law-enforcement authorities or your district attorney’s office.

It’s a big problem: The National Center on Elder Abuse, a government agency affiliated with the U.S. Administration on Aging, says that one in 10 people over the age of 60 in the U.S. experienced some form of abuse in the prior year. Research still lags all the new forms of financial abuse.

There are red flags to watch out for, however. Financial signs of elder abuse include fraudulent signatures on documents, overdue bills and “unusual or sudden changes in spending patterns, will or other financial documents,” according to the nonprofit National Council on Aging.

It may seem unthinkable, but caretakers, friends and family members are among the most common perpetrators of elder financial abuse. Such crimes cost elderly people up to $28 billion annually, researchers say, although official estimates may not reflect the true cost.

“Isolation is a red flag and many studies of elder abuse say a lack of a good support system and physical and psychological isolation are hallmarks of the problem,” according to the National Adult Protective Services Association. But as you discovered, it can also happen in plain sight.

Elderly people are vulnerable to villains like your cousin. I hope it’s not too late to undo this quitclaim — but I also hope that your story about this cousin moving in with your mother, with the offer of helping to do repairs around the house, serves as a warning to others.

Full Article & Source:
‘She was heavily medicated’: My cousin forced my elderly mother to sign over her share of the family home. What can we do?

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Stamford Man Sentenced For $800K Theft From Trust Account: Feds

A Stamford man was sentenced this week for stealing from a family trust he administered, according to prosecutors.

by Richard Kaufman

Curtis Solsvig, 69, of Stamford, is required to report to prison on April 19. (Shutterstock)

STAMFORD, CT — A 69-year-old Stamford man was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for stealing more than $800,000 from a family trust he administered, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery announced.

Curtis Solsvig, who is released on a $250,000 bond, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford. Solsvig is required to report to prison on April 19.

According to court documents and statements made in court, a married couple created a trust for the primary benefit of their two children, Avery said in a news release.

In 1996, Solsvig, a relative of the couple, began serving as trustee of the trust.

Beginning in 2011 and continuing for approximately eight years, Solsvig stole approximately $816,000 from the trust and used the funds for a variety of personal expenses, Avery said.

By the time the scheme concluded, less than $20 remained in the trust account, Avery added.

On Dec. 6, 2023, Solsvig pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Full Article & Source:
Stamford Man Sentenced For $800K Theft From Trust Account: Feds

Monday, March 18, 2024

Former Osceola County Caregiver Charged with Medication Theft


LANSING
– Today, a former caregiver with Reed City Fields, an assisted living facility in Osceola County, was arraigned on one count each of Larceny in a Building and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 77th District Court in Osceola County, announced Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. Walter Herrington III, 43, of Scottville, is alleged to have stolen and possessed pills, sedative Lorazepam (Ativan), prescribed to a deceased facility resident. Both charges are felonies.

“Caregivers provide invaluable services to their patients, but using that position to steal medications is a violation of trust and also a felony that my department will not hesitate to prosecute,” said Nessel. “These are controlled substances for a reason, and we must be able to trust in our caregivers to handle them responsibly and legally.”

Herrington was arrested by special agents of the Attorney General’s office yesterday and arraigned today before Magistrate Daniel E. Clise. He was given a $10,000/10% bond. Herrington will next appear in court on March 28th at 9:15 a.m. for a probable cause conference.

Larceny in a Building is 4-year felony, alternatively punishable by a $5,000 fine, or both. Possession of a Controlled Substance (Lorazepam) is a 2-year felony, alternatively punishable by a $2,000 fine, or both.

The Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division (HCFD) handled this case for the Department. The HCFD is the federally certified Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for Michigan, and it receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,541,992 for the fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25% percent, totaling $1,847,326 is funded by the State of Michigan.

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Please note: For all criminal proceedings, a criminal charge is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Department does not provide booking photos.

Source:
Former Osceola County Caregiver Charged with Medication Theft