A man was recently arrested in Bradenton over claims he impersonated Elon Musk to scam a 74-year-old woman out of $250,000.
Saturday, November 30, 2024
How scammers are using AI to commit elder fraud
Bradenton Police arrest Elon Musk impersonator
Bradenton Police's Elder Fraud unit arrested Jeffrey Arthur Moynihan, Jr. of Bradenton for allegedly defrauding a woman out of $250,000 while impersonating Elon Musk.
Woman raising grandson injured in horrific crash surprised with heartfelt gifts from a Secret Santa
A local Secret Santa is giving $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season and the East Idaho News elves are helping out.
Every day, from now until the end of the year, we’ll be posting a Secret Santa surprise and today we are visiting a deserving grandmother named Debi.
Debi has guardianship of her four grandchildren. Her grandson, Christian, was in a terrible car crash a few years ago. The driver died and Christian was left with a life-altering traumatic brain injury.
He was flown to St. Luke's in Boise where he clung to life for six weeks. Debi never left his side. By the grace of God, he survived and spent the following 13 months at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. Debi stayed with him the entire time while still managing to make sure Christian's three siblings were with trusted friends and adults.
Because Christian's care is so intense, he was placed in a facility, but it has been Debi's dream to bring him home to be with the family. She worked hard for years to put herself in the position to have him return home and just last month, she finally did it. She moved into a new house and brought him home.
Christian is resilient - going from being an average 10-year-old boy to having the mental capacity of a toddler. He is walking again, but his care is 24/7 and extremely labor intensive.
Debi takes care of Christian and his three siblings full-time. She has sacrificed everything to care for them, and she did everything in her power to keep her family together with the odds stacked against her. She is a remarkable person who has been through more than you can imagine.
Secret Santa asked the East Idaho News elves to go surprise Debi with an early Christmas gift.
Source:
Woman raising grandson injured in horrific crash surprised with heartfelt gifts from a Secret Santa
Friday, November 29, 2024
Kellie Pickler Drags Late Husband Kyle Jacobs’ Parents to Court in Fight Over His Property
By Ryan Naumann
American Idol alum Kellie Pickler and her late husband Kyle Jacobs’ parents are fighting over his personal property in court, In Touch can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Kellie, 38, filed a petition against Reed and Sharon Jacobs, who are the coadministrations of Kyle’s estate.
Kellie and Kyle started dating in 2008 and wed in January 2011. Kyle died on February 17, 2023, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 49.
Following his death, Kellie declined to serve as administrator of Kyle’s estate. As a result, Reed and Sharon took over control.
In her petition, Kellie explained that, “A dispute has arisen amongst the parties regarding certain personal property allegedly [Kyle’s] possession prior to his death.”
Kellie’s lawyer said Kyle’s parents created a document titled List of Assets. She said Reed and Sharon “have demanded — via a subpoena issued in the probate estate directed to [Kellie] — that [Kellie] deliver to the possession of their legal counsel.”
The singer’s attorney continued, “Included in the List of Assets are items that [Kellie] either does not have in her possession or over which right, title and possession are disputed.”
Kellie said Kyle’s parents “entered [her] home and obtained items of personal property after [Kyle’s] death.”
The entertainer said her in-laws have not provided her with a list of items they obtained from her home. Kellie’s suit demands Reed and Sharon produce a list of the items. Kellie asked the court to help resolve the fight over the personal property.
The subpoena that Reed and Sharon sent to Kellie included a long list of personal items. The list included Kyle’s gun collection that included three rifles, seven pistols and one shotgun. Other assets on the list included Kyle’s swords, including his Samurai Japanese sword, Rolex watch, Garmin watch, a 1957 J45 Gibson guitar, a McPherson KOA Guitar, a plastic bin of baseball card albums, school awards, a Steinway Grand Model M piano and a viola.
In addition, his parents asked that his work laptop, iPhone and hard drives be turned over.
In response to the petition filed by Kellie, Reed and Sharon accused Kellie of refusing to turn over property belonging to the estate. Further, they said she was “presently in violation of a Subpoena … issued to her for the return of the estate’s property” in the probe case.
Kyle’s parents denied Kellie’s claim that she was either unaware of the location of the items or she disputed Reed and Sharon had the right to the property.
They said, “[Kellie] and her counsel have provided conflicting information regarding the location and rightful possession of the items listed and, as set forth hereinabove, have admitted [Kellie] is in possession of several items of property of [Kyle].”
Kyle’s parents admitted they visited Kellie’s home on one occasion but said it was “at the express invitation of [Kellie] and her counsel whom they met to discuss the transfer of items belonging to the estate.”
Reed and Sharon said they only obtained items held in the garage of the home. They said Kellie selected the items and therefore they would not have needed to provide her with a list of the items taken.
Kyle’s parents said they have Kellie and Kyle’s prenup, which laid out ownership of property. The parents asked that Kelli’s petition be dismissed. The case is ongoing.
As In Touch previously reported, Kyle’s death occurred inside Kellie and Kyle’s Tennessee home. Kellie was home at the time but not in the same room. She woke up and could not find Kyle. She and her assistant called police after they couldn’t open the door to a room.
The autopsy report revealed Kyle did not have drugs in his system at the time of his death.
The report did note that Kyle had a history of “pseudoseizures, gastrointestinal bleeding, elevated liver enzymes, and chronic alcohol use.” Kyle was a successful songwriter who wrote songs for Garth Brooks, Trace Adkins, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, Clay Walker, Kelly Clarkson and countless others.
In August 2023, Kellie spoke out about her husband’s death. “One of
the most beautiful lessons my husband taught me was in a moment of a
crisis, if you don’t know what to do, ‘do nothing, just be still.’ I
have chosen to heed his advice,” Kellie said. “Thank you to my family,
friends and supporters, for the countless letters, calls and messages
that you have sent my way.”
Full Article & Source:
Kellie Pickler Drags Late Husband Kyle Jacobs’ Parents to Court in Fight Over His Property
National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month highlights financial risks for seniors
By: Shakeria Hawkins
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — November is National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and this year, experts are shining a light on a growing concern: the financial risks posed to seniors by memory loss and cognitive decline.
While scams are a well-known threat to retirees, memory loss often linked to conditions like Alzheimer’s or dementia has become an overlooked danger to their financial stability.
For 72-year-old Shirley Jay from North Las Vegas, unexpected charges on her account were a wake-up call.
“Somebody was trying to buy something, and the bank called me, and I said no, that wasn’t me,” Jay recalls.
She admits that she doesn't always check her accounts, but after the incident, she realized how important it is to stay vigilant about her finances.
“I really don’t check, but I really need to start because I’ve seen somebody charge me for something I didn’t buy,” she says.
Similarly, 66-year-old Palma White has found that automatic payment options, though convenient, often lead to confusion.
“My thing is you pay once, and it’s recurring, but you only wanted to try it for a month. Then you forget,” White explains.
Financial expert Brad Zucker of SMA Wealth Management says cognitive decline, linked to Alzheimer’s or dementia, can be devastating for seniors. Many impacted individuals end up overpaying, forgetting how to pay bills, or neglecting to check their accounts.
“Longer life expectancy means that we are prone to illnesses like Alzheimer’s and dementia that could easily wipe out decades of savings in just one year,” Zucker warns.
This issue is particularly relevant in Nevada, where seniors face a heightened risk of financial exploitation. According to research by Retirement Living, Nevada ranks among the worst states for senior scams. The state is ranked third for fraud and identity theft and fourth for financial losses among seniors.
Zucker stresses the importance of safeguarding seniors’ savings and suggests that caregivers and loved ones actively monitor their finances.
“It’s an absolute wrecking ball to a retiree’s nest egg, especially with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia,” Zucker says. “It’s one of the biggest financial risks.”
Zucker recommends staying in frequent contact with older adults, checking in by phone regularly, and keeping an eye on their financial decisions. He also advises preparing legally for these challenges.
“Have a rock-solid escape plan, including a Nevada Power of Attorney, so a cognitively healthy person can manage financial decisions for loved ones,” Zucker advises.
The data in our report makes one thing clear: knowing how to spot and avoid scams is crucial. Here are some steps to help protect yourself and your loved ones.
1. Stay Educated on Common Scams
Many
scams follow predictable patterns, whether it’s tech support fraud or
family impersonations. Learning key phrases and red flags will help you
recognize scams before they can steal your money or information.
2. Create a password
Collaborate
with your loved ones to come up with a secret password or phrase only
you know. If a scammer tries to impersonate a friend or family member,
ask them to repeat the password to verify their identity.
3. Take your time
Scammers
often speak with a sense of urgency to pressure you into acting
quickly. Pause and think about what’s being asked. If you have any
suspicions, it’s best to hang up and talk to someone you trust.
4. Don’t be afraid to double-check
Caller IDs can be deceptive. Scammers can “spoof” numbers to appear as if they’re calling from your area code or even a loved one’s phone. They can even use AI to mimic voices.
If you receive a call asking for money from someone claiming to be a
relative, for example, hang up and call them directly from your contact
list to verify the request. If they can’t confirm the story, it wasn’t
really them.
5. Report fraud
Filing a report with the FTC or the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center helps prevent scammers from targeting others. Take notes on what happened right away to make reporting easier later.
Experts
agree that awareness and vigilance are key in protecting seniors from
financial pitfalls. As Alzheimer’s Awareness Month continues, families
and caretakers are urged to take proactive steps to ensure the financial
safety of their loved ones.
Full Article & Source:
National Alzheimer’s Awareness Month highlights financial risks for seniors
Thursday, November 28, 2024
This isn’t ‘Home Alone’: Protecting seniors from real-life holiday crooks
by Tammy Weber
“Merry Christmas little fella. We know that you’re in there and that you’re all alone.” The crooks are plentiful and eager to capitalize on the loneliness of seniors, among other vulnerabilities.
The holiday season is soon upon us. It is a time of celebration and giving for most but beware of the takers. Online and other scams increase during the holiday season and many of these schemes target seniors. How can you identify and avoid senior scams?
Common Scams
Fake online stores — Watch out for online stores that are either fake or closely resemble a legitimate store/brand. If the price for a sought-after item is really low, it is too good to be true.
Gift card scams — These scams trick individuals to purchase fake gift cards or to use valid gift cards to pay for fraudulent goods or services. Make sure that you purchase gift cards from a reputable dealer. Online stores may advertise gift cards at a steep discount, and you may receive a gift card with no value. If you purchase gift cards in person, do not be upset when a cashier asks you the purpose of your purchase of multiple gift cards.
Phishing emails or text messages — If you receive a message from your bank or your credit card company that your account has been compromised, do not click on the link provided which prompts you to log into your account. Once you do this, the scammers have your personal information. Go to the main website of your bank or credit card company and log into your account or call the bank or your credit card company using the number on your bank statement or on the back of your credit card.
Tax relief services call, AKA government impersonator — “It looks like you still have some back taxes. I’m calling because you’re eligible to apply to have them eliminated through the total tax forgiveness program, but we need to enroll you now.” Of course, they will want your confidential information including your date of birth, social security number, address and more in order to enroll you. Do not give this information out over the phone. Remember the IRS will never call you on the phone. You will receive a formal letter in regular mail.
Grandparent scams — You get a call that your grandchild is in trouble and needs money to fix their car or make bail. The call may go like this — “Please don’t tell mom that I have been arrested. I need $1,000 for bail wired to this bail bondsperson.” The scammer is counting on the grandparent not being familiar with the grandchild’s voice.
Lottery phone scams — “You’ve won the lottery. We cannot wait to send you a certified check for your winnings, but we need x dollars in order to make sure your winnings get to you safely and are not stolen en route.”
Romance scams — In 2023, Americans lost $652 million in losses tied to romance and confidence scams according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report. In They’re Giving Scammers All Their Money. The Kids Can’t Stop Them, Tara Siegel Bernard details the story of a son who could not stop his father from giving approximately $1 million to scammers, including one posing as a female wrestling star.
Warning signs
Are you noticing sudden changes in your love one’s financial habits? Are they going to the bank more often, or do you see unusual withdrawals of large sums of money by someone accompanying your loved one? Has a name been added to the bank signature card? Have funds disappeared or are valuable possessions no longer displayed in the home? Are bills going unpaid or late notices being received? Are formerly uninvolved relatives now in the picture and claiming rights to possessions and involvement in your loved one’s affairs? Are services being provided that are not necessary? Is there now a mortgage on a previously paid-off home? Have you received notice that you are no longer the agent under your loved one’s Financial Power of Attorney? Did the local bank teller mention that your loved one has been in to the bank with a “new friend?”
Protect Yourself
Do not respond to requests for money, bank account numbers or credit cards. Never give out personal information in a phone call or email. Do not give out your Social Security number. When in doubt, hang up the phone!
Trusted resources
Where do you go to report these types of scams? The Office of Attorney General (OAG) has a Senior Protection Unit which investigates elder scams and financial exploitation. You may contact the OAG by email at seniors@attorneygeneral.gov or by calling the Senior Help Line at 1-866-623-2137. For more on this, view the presentation called Seniors, Scammers, and Scoundrels. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a website where you can report fraud and scams. There is also a listing of frequently asked questions to help educate you. You can also go to your county Area Agency on Aging.
“You guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?” The scammers are not
going to give up as they want more, but you can be vigilant.
Full Article & Source:
This isn’t ‘Home Alone’: Protecting seniors from real-life holiday crooks
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Wendy Williams’ Legal Guardian Shares Heartbreaking Health Update
by Martin Holmes
It’s heartbreaking news for fans hoping Wendy Williams will make a television comeback, as a new health update claims the former talk show host is “permanently incapacitated.”
As reported by The U.S. Sun, the latest health update comes from court documents from attorneys for Williams’ guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, who is battling with Lifetime over the documentary Where is Wendy Williams?
According to the outlet, Sabrina’s legal team refers to Williams as “an acclaimed entertainer who, tragically, has been afflicted by early-onset dementia and, as a result, has become cognitively impaired and permanently incapacitated.”
The filing adds, “In January 2022, after becoming aware of a pattern of disturbing events concerning [Williams’] welfare and finances, Wells Fargo took the highly unusual step of initiating a guardianship proceeding on its own initiative in the Supreme Court of New York, New York County (the ‘Guardianship Proceeding’), to seek the court appointment of an independent guardian for [Wendy’s] financial affairs.”
Morrissey’s legal team has asked the court for certain portions of the case about Williams’ “health, familial relationships, and finances” to be redacted to protect her privacy.
“We respectfully request that the Court grant Plaintiff’s motion for limited redactions to protect non-public information from the Guardianship Proceeding that has been placed under seal by the court overseeing that proceeding,” the papers state.
The latest court battle comes after Williams’ guardian tried to stop Lifetime from releasing its documentary earlier this year. Morrissey’s team filed a restraining order against the TV network on February 20, just days before the doc was released. However, the request was overturned as a judge found stopping the doc would be an “impermissible prior restraint on speech that violates the First Amendment of the institution.”
Morrissey filed an amended complaint on September 16, 2024, against A&E Television Networks, Entertainment One Reality Productions, Lifetime Entertainment Services, Creature Films, and director Mark Ford. The case is now being handled by the federal court. The defendants have filed countersuits against Morrisey.
Earlier this year, Williams’ healthcare team released a statement revealing her diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
“Aphasia, a condition affecting language and communication abilities, and frontotemporal dementia, a progressive disorder impacting behavior and cognitive functions, have already presented significant hurdles in Wendy’s life,” the statement said.
Williams was last seen in public
on August 19, when she stopped by the holistic store Bolingo Balance in
Newark, New Jersey, with her son, Kevin Hunt Jr. It marked the first
time Williams had been seen in public since March 2023.
Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams’ Legal Guardian Shares Heartbreaking Health Update
See Also:
Wendy Williams' Son Kevin Hunter Jr. May Have a Chance to Be Her Legal Guardian
'Wendy Williams’ Guardian Files Amended Lawsuit Claiming Talk Host Received “Paltry $82,000” For Lifetime DocuseriesWendy Williams’ Guardian Sues Lifetime Over Exploitative Documentary
Wendy Williams is ‘permanently’ incapacitated from dementia battle: guardian
Wendy Williams’ guardian claims that the former talk show host’s health is in severe decline.
In a Nov. 12 court filing obtained by The Post, attorneys for Williams’ guardian, Sabrina Morrissey, said that Williams, 60, “has become cognitively impaired, permanently disabled, and incapacitated” from her dementia battle.
Morrissey is currently in a legal battle with Lifetime over the release of the documentary “Where Is Wendy Williams?,” which came out in February.
The filing claimed the defendants — Lifetime’s parent company, A&E Television Networks, Lifetime Entertainment Services, EOne Productions, Creature Films and the doc’s executive producer Mark Ford — “cruelly took advantage of [Williams’] cognitive and physical decline by creating and publishing a documentary at a time when [Williams] was highly vulnerable and clearly incapable of consenting to be filmed.”
Williams was diagnosed with primary aggressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia — the same medical issues that Bruce Willis is battling — in 2023.
Since May 2022, she’s been been under a court ordered guardianship that oversees her health and finances after her bank, Wells Fargo, claimed she was “incapacitated.”
Morrissey’s legal team said the defendants “intentionally manipulated and goaded” Williams “to trigger strong emotional reactions and acquire embarrassing footage.”
In the filing, Morrissey’s attorneys pleaded to the court to redact aspects of Williams’ “health, familial relationships, and finances” that are outlined in the case to protect her privacy.
The defendants’ defense was also listed in the filing. They claimed the case arises from Morrissey’s “misguided efforts to attempt to excuse her own failure to protect her ward.”
They also claimed they had Williams’ “consent, input, and participation” to make the documentary before she was diagnosed with dementia and before she had a guardian.
In the filing, Morrissey and the defendants requested a trial that they anticipate will last two to four weeks.
The Post has reached out to Williams’ rep for comment.
Morrissey previously filed a lawsuit about the doc in September, alleging that Williams was “highly vulnerable and clearly incapable of consenting to being filmed, much less humiliated and exploited.”
In response, the defendants filed countersuits against Morrissey in the case, which is now being handled by the federal court.
Before the Lifetime documentary came out, Williams’ family told People that the “Think Like A Man Too” star is in a care facility. Her loved ones also claimed they can only speak to her when she calls them.
Williams hosted “The Wendy Williams Show” from 2008 to 2022.
In addition to the aphasia and dementia diagnoses, Williams has dealt with a myriad of other health issues including Graves’ disease and Lymphedema. She’s also struggled with alcohol and cocaine addiction.
Full Article & Source:
Wendy Williams is ‘permanently’ incapacitated from dementia battle: guardian
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Two Worlds: He Owns Nursing Homes Hit With Fines & Lives in a $14M Mansion in Newport
PHOTOS (L-R): The Foleys' home in Newport, estimated to be valued at $14M (Newport Tax Assessor) and file photo.
In Rhode Island, one of Foley’s nursing homes was recently hit with a penalty totaling as much as $500,000 for deficiencies impacting elderly patients, and this is far from the first time this home has been cited. Across his corporation, his nursing homes have been cited for hundreds of violations.
Foley owns about 20 nursing homes in Rhode Island and Connecticut under the name Apple Rehab, and it has many other companies in both states, including one of Newport’s entertainment hot spots.
If that was not enough, Foley and his wife were also tied to one of New England's biggest political corruption cases.
Hundreds of Thousands of Fines at One Rhode Island Nursing Home
The amount of the latest fine is disputed. ProPublica reports the Westerly nursing home, Apple Rehab Clipper, was assessed with penalties totaling $562,495 for its most recent violations since May.
The Rhode Island Department of Health had slightly different numbers for the violations. It says the most recent penalties totaled $491,815.
Michael Landi, Vice President of Operations for the nursing home chain, told GoLocal that the most recent fine for the Westerly nursing home is $270,940.
Landi said the company is appealing the fines. "The most important thing to say at the outset, though, is we have multiple appeals pending," said Landi in a phone interview with GoLocal last week.
He added that one factor in the assessment of the penalty had to do with the sprinkler system. "The last thing to get fixed is used in the calculation method of the per day fine and the last thing to get fixed was a sprinkler repair," said Landi.
Further, Landi claims, "We're disagreeing with the scope and severity assigned. There was no there was a significant lack of any substantiation of any resident being harmed by a finding during survey."
In the last three years, Foley’s Westerly nursing home has been cited with — not including the most recent fine — 28 violations and another $132,826 in penalties.
A number of the deficiencies were deemed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as dangerous. In one inspection, the violations “Level of Harm - Immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.”
According to that report, “During a surveyor
interview with Resident ID #1 on 1/25/2023 at approximately 1:25 PM,
s/he revealed s/he was discharged home on 1/20/2023 with 9 bubble packs
of medication that belonged to another resident, in addition to her/his
own medications. The resident further revealed that s/he did not receive
discharge instructions or education by the nurse. The resident further
revealed that s/he called the facility to inform them that s/he has
someone else medications.”
In another discovery by an inspector in 2023, the Westerly facility was found to have improperly trained nurses. "Based on record review, resident, and staff interview, it has been determined that the facility failed to ensure that licensed nurses have the specific competencies and skill sets necessary to care for residents' needs, as identified through the plan of care for 1 of 5 residents reviewed for discharge services, Resident ID #1." This violation was also deemed to put patients in "jeopardy."
GoLocal reviewed hundreds of pages of reports citing violations and raising significant concerns about the Westerly facility.
The Westerly nursing home has been fined a total of $695,000, according to reports from CMS as reported by ProPublica.
READ MORE about the Westerly nursing home violations on the Medicare.gov website.
Connecticut Nursing Homes Cited for More Than 550 Deficiencies
Foley’s Connecticut nursing homes in the past three years have been cited for hundreds of violations.
Fourteen of the homes have been hit with a total of 569 deficiencies — an average of 40.6 per home.
Those facilities have been heavily fined. In the past three years, ten of those Apple Rehab nursing homes have been fined cumulatively $667,722—an average of $67,772 per home.
In just three years, eleven of Foley’s nursing homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island have been fined more than $1.2 million.
Back in Newport at the Blues Cafe, Mansion, and Newport Brewing Company
In Newport, Foley has been rocking out to the music at the nightclub he owns in Newport — the Blues Cafe on Thames Street. That club is just one of a number of Rhode Island corporations under his name.
Foley and his wife's Newport mansion on the water has nearly 5,500 square feet of living space and an inground pool, and according to Zillow, it is estimated to be worth as much as $14 million.
The Foley's next-door neighbor is comedian Jay Leno.
In addition, Foley is the owner of Newport Brewing Company, according to Rhode Island Corporation documents.Full Article & Source:
Two Worlds: He Owns Nursing Homes Hit With Fines & Lives in a $14M Mansion in Newport
Moro woman charged with exploiting disabled person financially
East Alton police charge woman with exploiting disabled person, allegedly taking over $500
By Scott Cousins
 |
Moro woman charged with exploiting disabled person, several charged with passing bad checks. Getty Images |
EDWARDSVILLE — A Moro woman was charged Thursday with the financial exploitation of a disabled person.
The 51-year-old suspect was charged on Nov. 21 with financial exploitation of a person with a disability and theft, both Class 3 felonies.
The East Alton Police Department presented the case.
According to court documents, between July 1-Oct. 9, 2022, the suspect obtained by deception control of the property of a disabled person, specifically between $300-$5,000 cash; and took in excess of $500 from the victim.
Court records show the suspect has an extensive criminal history, including multiple drug-related arrests and convictions going back to 2004, had an active warrant and was on conditional discharge in a Jersey County case.
She was ordered released from custody.
Alton woman faces burglary, credit card fraud charges
A 38-year-old Alton woman was charged with burglary, a Class 3 felony; and unlawful use of a credit or debit card, a Class 4 felony.
The Alton Police Department presented the case.
According to court documents, on Sept. 1, the suspect allegedly entered a Kia Sedona in the 2400 block of Sanford Avenue, Alton, to commit theft; and used a credit or debit card taken from the vehicle to purchase items valued in excess of $300 at various gas stations.
She was ordered released from custody.
These individuals have only been charged and remain innocent until
proven guilty in a court of law. All charges may not be reported.
Full Article & Source:
Moro woman charged with exploiting disabled person financially
Baldwin County man charged with home repair fraud, exploiting elderly homeowner
 |
| The BCSO said the investigation began in August after payments totaling $23,999 were submitted to Cook. |
By WALA Digital Staff and Ariel Mallory
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - On Thursday the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office served an arrest warrant on 57-year-old Frederick Brewster Cook III of Seminole for the charges of first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly, first-degree theft of property and home repair fraud.
According to the BCSO, the warrants stem from an investigation into the activities of Cook, in which he allegedly entered into an agreement with a 67-year-old homeowner to repair and remodel an inground pool.
Captain Daniel Steelman with BCSO says the business was under the name Swimlast.
FOX10 News obtained court documents that say Swimlast hasn’t been in business in almost 15 years.
The documents also say Cook gave the alleged victim old business cards.
“During the investigation we determined Mr. Cook was not a licensed contractor, ultimately just defrauded our victim,” Captain Steelman said. “With that ultimately Mr. Cook, Frederick Cook, failed to do the work and then also then stopped calling back the homeowner.”
The BCSO said the investigation began in August after payments totaling $23,999 were submitted to Cook. Through the investigation, it was learned that Cook was not a licensed contractor, he did not perform the agreed upon work and he caused significant damage to the pool, before he stopped showing up and ended contact with the victim, according to investigators.
The sheriff’s office warns that everyone should use licensed contractors and ensure building permits are obtained prior to work beginning. You can check with the Alabama Licensing Board for General Contractors and the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board for a list of licensed contractors and the Better Business Bureau for information concerning businesses that engage in deceptive business practices, the office said.
Steelman says Cook left the pool unusable, and in worse condition that it started out.
Court documents say in May the alleged victim paid Cook the full $24,000 through four separate installments over 4 months.
The documents also say Cook doesn’t hold a contractor license in Alabama and isn’t qualified to do such construction.
Captain Steelman says they haven’t received any other reports outside of this one.
If you feel you may be a victim, you’re asked to contact the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office.
Full Article & Source:
Baldwin County man charged with home repair fraud, exploiting elderly homeowner
Monday, November 25, 2024
Relatives and nurse charged in elder abuse case after 79-year-old woman dies in Brockton
Three women face a host of charges, including elder abuse, Medicaid fraud and larceny in the death of a 79-year-old Massachusetts woman last year. WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports.
Source:
Relatives and nurse charged in elder abuse case after 79-year-old woman dies in Brockton
Nashville Man Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Smithville Woman
By: Dwayne Page
Michael David Verble, a native of Livingston raised in Hot Springs Arkansas, was indicted in July 2023 for financial exploitation of an elderly adult. Verble’s professional background was listed as having experience in the health care, financial services and insurance industries. On Tuesday Verble entered a guilty plea to the charge and received a four-year sentence to serve concurrently with cases in Rutherford and Williamson counties. He must make restitution of $3,500 to the victim by March 31. 2025. Verble was given jail credit of 419 days.
Assistant District Attorney General Greg Strong told WJLE last October that Verble took $3,500 from the Smithville woman to set up a trust account and never followed through.
The indictment alleges that “on or about October 2019, Verble did unlawfully and knowingly through the use of deception financially exploit an elderly DeKalb County woman in violation of state law.”
Full Article & Source:
Nashville Man Sentenced for Defrauding Elderly Smithville Woman
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Court: Indiana Guardianship Oversight Task Force established
by: Cooper Hudson
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Supreme Court established a new task force on Friday that works to protect seniors and adults with disabilities across the state.
According to the court, the Indiana Guardianship Oversight Task Force will work to:
- Research guardianship best practices and new programming methods, both of which affect oversight.
- Find possible strategies and resources that can help improve pre-existing guardianship oversight within the state’s justice system.
- Recommend new strategies to improve adult guardianship functions. Per court documents, this could include greater communication and technology use in order to manage Indiana’s guardianship system.
- Examine how reform efforts can impact Indiana’s justice system.
- Create improvements that lead to better outcomes for everyone involved. For example, the Indiana Supreme Court policies, procedures and pilot programming as topics that could be boosted.
- Give a final report to the Indiana Supreme Court no later than Dec. 1, 2025. This report will detail the findings and suggestions for improvement to Indiana’s guardianship system.
The Indiana Supreme Court added that the Guardianship Oversight Task Force is necessary due to a rising number of Hoosiers needing guardianship services each year.
They plan to create “…a system that is easy to navigate and ensures
justice is fairly administered.” Specifically, the court called an
improved system under the task force “…both crucial and timely.”
Full Article & Source:
Court: Indiana Guardianship Oversight Task Force established
Man undergoing electroshock treatment fights to end medical procedures
By Reg Chapman
ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the past year, David Russell has been at Regions Hospital held on a court-ordered civil commitment.
He was given 17 shock treatments at Mayo Clinic to treat his mental illness. Now, doctors at Regions Hospital are petitioning the courts to do more.
"This is the third electroshock-forced electroshock case in Minnesota that we've put an alert out, " said Attorney Jim Gottstein.
Gottstein has spoken with Russell and volunteers his time to fight against forced psychiatric drugging and electroshock.
"Not only is he committed but a guardianship has been appointed over him," Gottstein said.
Because of the guardianship, Gottstein says Russell is considered incompetent and the court can make a decision based on what doctors want.
He believes Russell is not a good candidate for ECT.
"The usual reason for giving electric shock is if someone is severely depressed and this is supposed to shock them out of that. The FDA only approves it for Catania but, in this case, Mr. Russell is not diagnosed with depression. He is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder which is not a normal indication for electro shock, " Gottstein said.
ECT involves attaching electrodes to a patient's head and delivering an electrical current to the brain to produce a seizure.
Gottstein believes further electroshock treatments could impact Russell's ability to return to society and take care of himself.
"He's a software engineer and it's really a question of how much electric shock he can endure and have any chance of going back to that, " Gottstein said.
In Minnesota, doctors can't administer anti-psychotic medication unless the patient consents or its an emergency, even if they are civilly committed. However, in rare cases, courts can hold hearings to force patients to take the drugs or ECT.
A judge will hear doctors request for continued electroshock treatment for Russell Monday morning.
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Man undergoing electroshock treatment fights to end medical procedures
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