Pulaski County Man Convicted for Defrauding Elderly Relative

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Kentucky

LONDON, Ky.- A Science Hill, Ky., man, Samuel Turner, 42, was convicted on Monday by a federal grand jury sitting in London for four counts of wire fraud. The jury returned the conviction after three hours of deliberation. 

According to evidence at trial, Turner gained access to an elderly family member’s bank accounts and credit cards and used the funds as his own. With the victim’s money, he bought, among other things, guns, concert tickets, items from Amazon, and items from a gun accessory store.  He also cashed out a certificate of deposit worth over $35,000 belonging to the victim. 

Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; jointly announced the conviction.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Mattingly Williams. 

Turner will appear for sentencing on January 6, 2027. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Mission, focusing on identifying and prosecuting those who facilitate elder financial exploitation.  The initiative is carried out locally through the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force. Anyone who knows of someone who may be a victim of elder financial exploitation, is encouraged to contact law enforcement or get more information by visiting https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. 

Source:
Pulaski County Man Convicted for Defrauding Elderly Relative 

Importance of Guardianship For Special Needs

 by Kami-Leigh Agard

I can’t believe that my autistic daughter is turning 18 next month. Legally, she will be of the age to vote and make her own medical decisions. However, the reality looks very different for my daughter due to her level of autism. Though blessed with herculean strength and athleticism, she still needs assistance with bathing and grooming, dressing, toileting, preparing her meals and other ADL (activities of daily living) skills. My daughter can’t even independently cross the street. So, though I’m a firm believer that with God, miracles do happen, I have to think about the here and now, which is why securing legal guardianship is imperative.

In New York State, parents lose automatic legal authority to make medical or financial decisions for a special needs child once they turn 18, making an Article 17-A Guardianship the primary legal tool used to retain decision-making power. A parent on Facebook page, New York Alliance for Developmental Disabilities (NYADD), described a situation that poignantly laid out why obtaining parental legal guardianship could be a matter of life and death. She stated: “Why you need guardianship. Yesterday my son, age 28, went to the hospital with a fever. They wanted to put an IV in and he said, ‘No.’ I, the guardian, arrived a few minutes later and explained to him why he needed the IV, and so the nurse put it in. Without it, kidney damage was likely. So, if you don’t have guardianship, you can find yourself in life-or-death situations when your loved one says, ‘No,’ to everything. So often people say, ‘No one ever asked me for it, so I didn’t bother getting guardianship.’ Please get guardianship or health care proxy, or whatever your family situation requires.  And carry it with you always.  When you need it, there may not be enough time to go get it."

In New York State, when a person turns 18 years old, they are assumed to be legally able to make decisions for themselves. As a parent, your rights to make decisions for your child (special needs or otherwise) come to a screeching halt. You no longer have the right to speak or consult with your child’s doctors or other providers; you also cannot handle their financial matters. This will present a problem if the person is intellectually or developmentally disabled and is unable or has difficulty making decisions for themselves.

 Full Article and Source:
 Importance of Guardianship for Special Needs

The Guardian You Probably Haven’t Heard Of That Is Protecting RI’s Aging Population

By Lori Light and Carol Anne Costa

PHOTO: Hermes Rivera, Unsplash

As Rhode Island’s population rapidly ages, our state stands at a demographic crossroads. Nearly one in four Rhode Islanders is now age 60 or older, and RI consistently ranks among the highest in the nation for the proportion of residents aged 85 and above. Whether living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or receiving licensed care at home, thousands of older Rhode Islanders rely on long-term care services and support every day.

 And yet, behind the doors of long-term care facilities, a critical system of protection often goes completely unnoticed until a resident, patient, or family faces a crisis.

That protection rests in the office of the Rhode Island State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. 

Let’s be honest, "Ombudsman" is a cumbersome and funny word. It’s a Scandinavian term that roughly translates to "independent advocate" or "citizen's representative." Despite its formal, unusual name, the role of an ombudsman is straightforward and can be incredibly impactful. The Ombudsman is the eyes, ears, and voice for long-term care residents, patients, and consumers across RI.

Full Article and Source:
The Guardian You Probably Haven't Heard That is Protecting RI's Aging Population 

Financial Advisor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Client

 

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Georgia

ATLANTA – Ejiroghene O. Okuma, a financial adviser who defrauded an elderly client out of nearly $10 million, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for wire fraud.

“Under the guise of acting as a financial adviser, Okuma abused the trust placed in him by an elderly client,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “His sentence should send a clear message to fiduciaries who may be tempted to steal: we will seek lengthy prison sentences to punish those who exploit vulnerable citizens to line their own pockets.” 

“Okuma betrayed the trust of an elderly client and exploited his position as a financial adviser to steal nearly $10 million for his own personal benefit,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “He used his access and authority to systematically drain his victim’s accounts while funneling the stolen money into lavish purchases and other personal expenses. The FBI will aggressively pursue financial predators who exploit their positions of trust and prey on vulnerable victims.”

According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Okuma was an investment adviser who received complete access to the brokerage account of an elderly client (“Victim-1”) in 2016.

In February 2022, Okuma was appointed to administer the estate of Victim-1’s sister. The next month, Okuma began embezzling from Victim-1 by falsely representing that the sister’s estate required funds. Believing Okuma’s lies, Victim-1 permitted Okuma to transfer $500,000 from a brokerage account to a bank account purportedly held for the estate. Without Victim-1’s knowledge, Okuma then transferred those funds to a bank account in the name of his wife’s company. Later, in June 2022, Okuma stole approximately $400,000 by transferring (i) funds he deceived Victim-1 into paying as part of administering the sister’s estate and (ii) proceeds from the sale of the sister’s residence.

After embezzling nearly $1 million from Victim-1 through lies about Victim-1’s sister’s estate, Okuma set up fraudulent accounts to steal millions more from Victim-1. In February 2023, Okuma opened an unauthorized brokerage account in the name of a revocable trust involving Victim-1. On the same day that Okuma opened the fraudulent brokerage account, he opened a bank account in his own name and added himself as a custodian to an existing bank account in Victim-1’s name, giving himself the ability to withdraw funds without Victim-1’s approval.

Within days, Okuma began draining Victim-1’s brokerage accounts. By the end of February 2023, Okuma had transferred approximately $9 million of Victim-1’s funds to the fraudulently opened brokerage account without Victim-1’s knowledge. Between August 2023 and March 2025, Okuma moved that money to other accounts he controlled and used it to, among other things, purchase a $5.2 million residence in Vinings, Georgia, purchase an approximately $1.4 million beach club membership, and donate approximately $340,000 to his church.

On September 11, 2026, Ejiroghene O. Okuma, 44, of Smyrna, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years, four months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Restitution will be decided at a hearing that will be scheduled at a later date. Okuma was convicted of one count of wire fraud after pleading guilty on March 17, 2026. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For more information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to help older Americans and to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation and fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

Assistant United States Attorney Samir Kaushal and former Assistant United States Attorney Alex R. Sistla prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

Updated September 14, 2026 

Source:
Financial Advisor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Client 

Inside Cher's Conservatorship Battle With Son Elijah Blue Allman

Cher has filed a second petition for a conservatorship over her son, Elijah Blue Allman, in April 2026 after a series of legal issues.

The news emerged on April 17, 2026, when Cher submitted her request to the Los Angeles Superior Court. She has asked fiduciary Jason Rubin to manage Allman's finances.

This marks the second attempt by Cher to gain control over her son’s estate. According to court documents, Cher stated that Allman's life “has significantly deteriorated” since she first sought a conservatorship in 2023, which was ultimately denied.

Allman, 47, has publicly stated that he does not require his mother’s intervention. In documents obtained by Us Weekly on January 24, he asserted that he is “now sober” and “paying his bills.” 

Legal expert Rachael Bennett, a certified family law specialist, explained the significance of Cher's petition. “To get a conservatorship over an adult child in California, Cher will have to meet a pretty high legal standard,” Bennett said. “She has to prove by clear and convincing evidence that Elijah is either unable to provide for his basic personal needs…or that he’s totally unable to manage his finances.”

Bennett further noted that even if Cher meets the legal requirements, the court may find alternative support systems more suitable.

Cher’s first attempt at guardianship failed due to insufficient evidence. “Her earlier petition was denied because the judge didn’t see enough evidence of incapacity, basically saying that the petition was premature,” Bennett stated. The judge’s ruling indicated that Cher needed to wait until Elijah’s situation worsened.

In her recent court filing, Cher alleges that Allman is currently in a psychiatric facility in New Hampshire following multiple arrests. Reports confirm that Elijah was arrested in February 2026 for assault and criminal trespassing at a prep school, where he displayed erratic behavior. He faces two counts of assault and various other charges.

Elijah's second arrest occurred in March 2026 when he was accused of breaking and entering into a home in Windham, N.H.. The police have confirmed that he faces serious charges.

Cher claims that Elijah’s legal troubles indicate his inability to manage his finances, alleging that he spends money “immediately” on luxuries.

Bennett elaborated on the implications of a potential conservatorship. “If this conservatorship is approved, it would give significant, but also very targeted control, mainly over just his finances,” she explained. This arrangement would restrict Elijah’s access to his money and likely involve a controlled allowance system.

Source: MEGA

A judge denied Cher's emergency conservatorship request due to insufficient urgency.

On April 24, 2026, a judge denied Cher’s latest motion, citing a lack of “sufficient urgency” for the request. Cher’s team has not yet commented on the ruling.

As the situation develops, the public remains curious about the future of Cher and Allman's relationship amidst these ongoing legal battles.

Full Article & Source:
Inside Cher's Conservatorship Battle With Son Elijah Blue Allman 

See Also:
Cher Seeks to Delay Conservatorship Hearing Pending Guardianship Effort 

Nurse accused of performing exorcism on elderly nursing home resident, report says

By Brandy Beard

NAZARETH, Pa. (Gray News) - A nurse is accused of attacking an elderly nonverbal patient and attempting to perform an exorcism on her.

The charges stem from an alleged assault on June 23 at a county-run facility in Pennsylvania, according to NBC Philadelphia.

Octavia Robinson was charged with abuse of a care dependent person, harassment, and simple assault.

According to WFMZ, police in Nazareth were called on June 23 for a welfare check. The caller said one of the nurses was acting strangely and would not come out for around two hours.

WFMZ reported that an officer saw Robinson standing over the patient with her fingers in the patient’s mouth. Robinson then allegedly said there were demons inside the patient that “needed to come out,” the outlet said court documents revealed.

A grand jury report stated the woman’s roommates tried to get help from staff and officers, NBC Philadelphia reported.

Robinson was taken to an area hospital for an involuntary emergency health evaluation, WFMZ said.

Full Article & Source:
Nurse accused of performing exorcism on elderly nursing home resident, report says 

Nurse so drunk at work she needed help booking a taxi

by Telegraph reporters 

A care home nurse has been suspended after a tribunal found she went to work drunk and needed help from her colleagues to book a taxi home.

Karen Jane Makinson, 59, was "extremely intoxicated" during a shift at Church House Nursing Home in Nantwich, Cheshire, in June 2024, putting residents at a "significant risk of harm", a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel found.

She was swaying as she walked through the 44-bed nursing home, which provides care for residents with dementia, according to the panel. She was dismissed 10 days later. Ms Makinson denied the allegations.

Giving evidence to the tribunal, her colleagues described how she laughed at things that were not funny and struggled to walk downstairs.

Robert Hammond, the care home manager, said he took her car keys from her after refusing to let her drive home, adding that a senior carer had to help her order a cab because she "simply could not co-ordinate to move her fingers on her phone to book a taxi home".

Karen Jane Makinson, 59, was drunk during a shift at Church House Nursing Home in Cheshire, putting residents at a 'significant risk of harm'

During a probationary interview, Ms Makinson admitted she had two glasses of wine at lunchtime some eight hours before her shift and said she may have appeared unsteady on her feet because she was answering a text on her phone while walking.

She also said she was unable to use her phone to book a taxi because she was unfamiliar with the recently downloaded app.

The panel found her account "implausible" and accepted the witnesses' evidence, according to a written judgment. Her actions were determined to have breached the code and amounted to misconduct.

'Very serious misconduct'

The panel said: "The panel was of the view that in attending work as the nurse in charge and the only nurse on shift, providing clinical care to vulnerable residents whilst under the influence of alcohol, was very serious misconduct and fell far below the standards expected of a registered nurse.

"The panel concluded from the evidence that Ms Makinson was extremely intoxicated and that her co-ordination, judgment and behaviour were all adversely affected as a consequence.

"It was of the view that someone who was intoxicated to this extent would be unlikely to recognise a deteriorating patient or respond appropriately if an emergency situation arose, placing residents at a significant risk of harm."

The panel concluded Ms Makinson's fitness to practise was impaired and ordered a 12-month suspension.

Full Article & Source:
Nurse so drunk at work she needed help booking a taxi