DC woman accused of stealing $266K from 95-year-old grandfather

A 95-year-old man became the victim of staggering financial exploitation, and now his own granddaughter is being charged with the crimes. 

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DC woman accused of stealing $266K from 95-year-old grandfather 

Judge grants guardian, conservator for DC Councilmember Vincent Gray; kids accuse wife of fraud

by: Daniel Hamburg

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Court documents filed in D.C. Superior Court reveal new information about Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray’s health.

On Wednesday, a judge ordered a guardian and conservator to oversee his best interests.

This ruling comes after Gray’s two children petitioned the court to take power away from his wife, who they said has engaged in fraud with Gray’s assets and kept them from seeing their father.

On Thursday, Gray announced he had dementia and would no longer vote on council legislation for the rest of his term.

‘Not an easy decision, but it is the right decision’: DC Councilmember to stop casting council votes due to dementia

Gray, 81, has had a distinguished career both on the D.C. Council and as mayor of D.C. But his two children said his wife of five years, Dawn Kum, who’s nearly 25 years younger than the councilmember, is taking advantage of him.

Their attorney Doug Gansler said following Gray’s first two strokes, “She actually refinanced his house without his knowledge and took out $475,000, in that manner. She then took another $77,000 from the home.”

In a petition filed in August, Gansler said Gray’s wife “is squandering [his] money on frequent high-end vacations and luxury shopping sprees.”

He said Kum isolated Gray from his children, not allowing them to visit him in the hospital and at home.

“She blocked his phone. She wouldn’t let them visit their own home. The house that Jonice and Carlos [Gray’s children] actually grew up in,” Gansler said.

He said she also withheld information about Gray’s health condition.

“On certain occasions when Petitioners have been able to see their father outside the presence of DK, VG has told Petitioners, with tears in his eyes, that he is happy to see them and that he did not know they were unaware of his strokes, his health complications, or his whereabouts,” court documents said.

In or abGray’s Communications Director Chuck Thies said the petition represents and advocates “for the interests of one side of a complicated legal matter.” He said the proceedings are a private family matter, not council business.out mid-December 2021, Gray could not count backward from 20 and could not recite the months of the year backward, according to court documents.

Gansler said it’s been a gradual decline since then, after four total strokes.

He also said Kum injected herself into a leadership role in Gray’s job as Councilmember, forcing the hiring of her daughter’s long-time live-in boyfriend to essentially be Gray’s healthcare aide.

“It’s very sad that someone would try and take advantage of him like this,” Gansler said.

Gansler said Wednesday’s decision by a judge to grant a conservatorship is important for Gray, his children and his legacy.

“Going forward, he will have a guardian that’s exercising his or her judgment in the best interests of Mayor Gray and making sure that his assets are protected so that he has, access to quality health care going forward,” Gansler said.

DC News Now reached out to Kum and her attorney several ways for comment but they have not responded.

Gray’s Communications Director Chuck Thies said the petition represents and advocates “for the interests of one side of a complicated legal matter.” He said the proceedings are a private family matter, not council business.

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Judge grants guardian, conservator for DC Councilmember Vincent Gray; kids accuse wife of fraud

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D.C. Council member Vincent C. Gray says he has dementia, won’t cast votes

D.C. Council member Vincent C. Gray says he has dementia, won’t cast votes

By Paul Schwartzman

Vincent C. Gray, a pillar of District politics for more than two decades whose deteriorating health kept him from seeking another D.C. Council term, said Thursday he would no longer vote on legislation because of “age-related dementia,” an announcement that followed a Superior Court judge’s ruling to appoint a guardian and conservator for him.

Gray’s pronouncement came after his two adult children, Jonice Gray and Carlos Gray, asked Judge Leslie Meek to appoint an overseer for their 81-year-old father, whom they described in a petition as “extremely fragile” after suffering “at least four strokes since November 2021.”

Douglas Gansler, the attorney representing Gray’s children, said a court-appointed social worker who evaluated Gray at his home Oct. 18 concluded that the council member isn’t able to live independently because of his physical condition and impairments, which prevent him from making decisions about his health care and finances.  (Continue Reading)

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D.C. Council member Vincent C. Gray says he has dementia, won’t cast votes

Disabilities Day Program Employee Sentenced to 230 Days in Jail for Exploiting Vulnerable Adults and Shoplifting

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia

USADC.Media@usdoj.gov

            WASHINGTON — Danielle Marquita Baltimore, 40, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 180 days of incarceration for financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult or elderly person, and 50 days for shoplifting. Each sentence will run concurrent to each other. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, and Daniel W. Lucas, Inspector General for the District of Columbia.

            Baltimore pleaded guilty to the two charges on October 2, 2024, before the Honorable Robert Rigsby, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

            According to the government’s evidence, Baltimore worked as a direct support professional at Innovative Day, LLC, a day program for adults with developmental disabilities. Baltimore’s duties included taking individuals who require assistance or supervision in a safe environment outside the home during the day. Along with her guilty plea, Baltimore admitted that on or about December 20, 2023, Baltimore took two vulnerable adults who suffer from cognitive and developmental disabilities to Walmart, located at 310 Riggs Rd NE, Washington, DC. While at Walmart, Baltimore coerced the two vulnerable adults under her care into shoplifting items on her behalf. Baltimore placed items consisting of sneakers, clothing, and various merchandise in bags and gave the bags to the victims. Baltimore instructed the victims to exit Walmart without paying for the items. After leaving Walmart, Baltimore retrieved all of the concealed items from the victims. One victim stated they felt bad for shoplifting but complied for fear Baltimore would harm them for refusing.

            This prosecution is part of the Office’s wider efforts to combat crimes against seniors and vulnerable adults. In 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia launched an initiative to address the abuse and exploitation of older adults. The Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative at the U.S. Attorney’s Office expanded its response to criminal and civil violations targeting older adults. The initiative has enabled the U.S. Attorney’s Office to develop and coordinate further its prosecution of these cases and enhance its overall support of older or vulnerable victims. The team consists of experienced prosecutors and victim advocates from across the Office, to include the Superior Court, Criminal, and Civil Divisions, as well as the Victim Witness Assistance Unit.

            The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation Initiative partners with the D.C. Office of the Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), which is statutorily responsible for investigating and prosecuting District Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse or neglect of residents in health care facilities and board and care facilities and of District Medicaid beneficiaries in noninstitutional or other settings.

            This prosecution is indicative of the continued collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General to investigate and prosecute cases of this kind. The government urges the public to provide tips and assistance to stop health care fraud. If you have information about individuals committing health care fraud, please call the D.C. Office of the Inspector General at 202-724-TIPS [202-724-8477].

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Inspector General Lucas acknowledged the work of those who investigated and prosecuted the case from the Major Crimes Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Office of Inspector General’s MFCU. They also commended the efforts of Special Assistant United States Attorney Emmanuela Charles, on detail from the MFCU, who prosecuted the case, and MFCU Special Agents Eduardo Torre and Victor Richardson, who investigated the matter.

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Disabilities Day Program Employee Sentenced to 230 Days in Jail for Exploiting Vulnerable Adults and Shoplifting

Trial begins for teen girls accused of beating elderly DC man to death

Police say five girls, one of them just 12-years-old, attacked 64-year-old Reggie Brown on Georgia Avenue last October.

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Trial begins for teen girls accused of beating elderly DC man to death

Casey Holds Hearing on Local Impact of the Older Americans Act

May 23, 2024

Pennsylvanians testified at hearing about the importance of programs like Meals on Wheels, senior community centers, and home- and community-based services, which are funded by the Older Americans Act

At hearing, Casey committed to fighting to keep these programs authorized and fully funded

Watch full hearing video here

Washington, D.C. - Today, at a U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing, Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) highlighted how programs funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA), such as Meals On Wheels, senior community centers, and home- and community-based services, play a critical role in keeping American seniors active, healthy, and connected to their communities. Older Americans experience disproportionate levels of loneliness, isolation, and difficulty accessing meals and health care services, and OAA-funded programs provide a lifeline for seniors struggling to meet these needs. The hearing, entitled “The Older Americans Act: The Local Impact of the Law and the Upcoming Reauthorization,” featured testimony from experts and Pennsylvanian beneficiaries about the importance of ensuring full funding for these vital programs. At the hearing, which comes as the Senate prepares to reauthorize the OAA, Chairman Casey laid out his top priorities for reauthorization, which include supporting states in long-term planning for senior services, substantially increasing funding for long-term care ombudsmen, who ensure the safety of nursing home residents, and increasing investments in nutrition programs.

“Since its passage, the Older Americans Act has served as the foundation for community social services for older adults—from funding Meals on Wheels to local senior centers to home and community-based caregiving,” said Chairman Casey. “These programs are vital for older adults across Pennsylvania and the Nation, and as we prepare to reauthorize the OAA, I am going to fight to ensure they get the full amount of funding that our seniors need and deserve. Our Nation’s older adults have fought in our wars, raised our children and grandchildren, and built our communities—they deserve our support as they age.”

Chairman Casey invited Janet Billotte, a resident of West Decatur, PA, and a recipient of home-delivered meals and other services from her county Area Agency on Aging. She testified about how the services provided to her by OAA-funded programs have improved her life, saying, “Last year, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer and I was also caring for my husband who had been sick with many issues for a long time…Many days, I didn’t feel well and it was very helpful to have these meals delivered to us…I’m very grateful to be receiving these services, and…I know many older adults who receive Meals on Wheels are thankful like I am. I also understand that there are many more older adults on the waiting list for these services. I ask you to please help more people get into the program and be able to receive these great services.”

Watch the full hearing here.

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Casey Holds Hearing on Local Impact of the Older Americans Act

Senior Shelter Dog 'Ignores' Everyone, Then 70-Year-Old Woman Meets Him

By Rachael O'Connor

A senior dog had almost given up finding his forever home when one woman visiting the shelter changed his life forever—he had ignored previous adopters until he met her.

Original Good Boy, or OGB for short, was eight years old when he was surrendered to the Humane Rescue Alliance in Washington, DC, before being brought to St Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey.

When 70-year-old Susan Wright visited the shelter just before Christmas last year, adopting a senior dog was the last thing on her mind.

She told Newsweek: "We were walking around looking at the fur babies when I noticed one dog had his back to the door ignoring all attempts to engage him.

"I didn't think he was particularly 'cute', he looked like a very serious dog. He had the square head of a bulldog and the compact muscular body of a terrier or pit bull, weighed about 80 pounds and was 8.5 years old. An attendant said OGB did not like being in the shelter and had just given up."

"It broke my heart," she added.

OGB was loved by his previous owner, who gave him his unique name, but sadly had no choice in giving him up. He was an immediate hit with staff at the shelter, and "couldn't get enough love, belly rubs, and scratches," St Hubert's staff member Diane Ashton told Newsweek.

"And when he gets really pleased, he does an adorable little 'happy dance.'"

OGB tucks in to a snack. Wright took him on field trips away from the shelter, and he developed a taste for puppacinos. St Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

But tragically, she said, "senior dogs can sometimes get overlooked at shelters".

"Compared to noisier, more boisterous dogs, OGB seemed a bit more low-key and reserved in the kennel, which is why he might not have been immediately noticed by potential adopters," she explained.

This is, unfortunately, true for so many older animals: the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) states in an online publication that it is "hard for many would-be adopters to resist puppies and kittens. Older animals awaiting adoption are often overlooked when the cuteness factor of a young pet (puppy breath!) outweighs a gray muzzle."

However the organization adds: "Older pets have many advantages. They don't require as much supervision and maintenance as younger animals. They're often better behaved, house-trained, and know basic commands. Their personalities are already developed. What you see is what you get."

OGB and Susan Wright relax at home in the sunshine. The dog will now live out his days with her, after ignoring other adopters visiting the shelter. St Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

After meeting OGB, Wright began taking him on field trips: walks around the neighborhood, playing in the park, and even trips to Starbucks for puppacinos.

"We had a slightly rocky start as I knew nothing about how to walk a dog, especially a strong dog," she said.

"OGB wouldn't look at me or listen to me. I noticed he did not 'see' women, but men he paid very close attention to and particularly those in a large SUV or truck. He also didn't react to children."

Wright spotted the signs that OGB's previous owner had likely been a male who regularly ran or jogged. She hired a trainer to help the two of them understand each other, and soon a strong bond began to form between them.

"When my daughters discovered what I was doing, they wanted to go on a walk with OGB. They loved him on sight and thought he was quite handsome," Wright said, adding: "It felt a little like introducing a date to them."

After multiple field trips and training, followed by overnight trips to Wright's house, she decided to foster him, or as she put it: "February 18, 2024, OGB was released into my custody. And he never left."

"When an interested party contacted me about potentially adopting OGB, in that instant, I knew he was mine," she said.

"I had made a promise I wouldn't leave him until he was adopted. If he was with me, he would always be in a good home.

"If I described the dog I would have chosen, he probably wouldn't look like OGB, and he probably wouldn't be as old. But I also probably wouldn't have thought about the traits that make OGB a wonderful housemate and who has (almost) always been well behaved."

Wright hopes her and OGB's story will highlight "the joy adopting an older fur baby will give, in ways that someone may not anticipate".

"Our fur babies are not disposable and care should be taken to ensure the match is a good one. My little bit of experience suggests common sense and a good trainer can assist the relationship to get off to a good start."

OGB in the passenger seat. Adopter Susan Wright now shares a strong bond with the dog, built up by taking him out for the day from the shelter. Susan Wright

Now the pair are inseparable, and OGB — now known as Ogee — is showing off his gentle nature to others.

Last week, Wright said, her daughter was walking Ogee when they saw a little boy fall off his bike and injure his wrist.

As her daughter called the boy's mother, "Ogee laid between my daughter's legs and the boys pet him and he calmly and gently gave them little licks on their hands. Would all dogs do that, I don't know. But we think it makes Ogee very special."

St Hubert's shelter shared the happy news of Ogee's adoption to their Facebook page, complete with an adorable photo of Wright and her new pet grinning at the camera.

OGB, and with Susan Wright who now calls him Ogee She never thought she would adopt and older dog like him, but now the pair are inseparable after putting in some hard work. St Hubert's Animal Welfare Center

In just one day, the post gained hundreds of likes, with animal lovers flooding the comments to congratulate OGB on finding his forever home.

"What a wonderful outcome for OGB. Congrats Susan," one user wrote, with another calling it "an amazing story".

One said: "I love this! I was so happy to see he was adopted, it broke my heart seeing him there. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story!"

And another added: "This makes me so happy! OGB just needed that special someone to see and realize what a great boy he is. After much waiting, he found his perfect person!"

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Senior Shelter Dog 'Ignores' Everyone, Then 70-Year-Old Woman Meets Him

Baker hearing looks to strengthen guardianship laws, prevent elder abuse

By Bill O’Boyle

WILKES-BARRE — The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Lisa Baker, this week held a joint public hearing with the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, chaired by Sen. Judy Ward, on strengthening guardianship laws and preventing elder abuse in Pennsylvania.

Baker, R-Lehman Township, said when an adult of any age is deemed incapacitated by a court, a guardian may be appointed to become responsible for making certain decisions on their behalf, including financial, medical and personal matters.

“Our current court-appointed guardianship process in Pennsylvania needs to be improved,” Baker said. “We must ensure individuals requiring assistance are properly represented and have their rights safeguarded by properly certifying legal guardians, limiting the abuse of the system and enhancing our laws to protect the vulnerable.”

Ward, R-30, said appointing a guardian for a person represents a serious step that must be taken with great caution and the utmost respect for the person’s basic rights.

“This is an issue that can touch all Pennsylvanians,” Ward said. “It’s important that we take a proactive approach and identify and address issues with our current system. With the information gleaned from this hearing, we can ensure that the Pennsylvania’s guardianship system meets the needs of our citizens in the 21st century.”

To strengthen the guardianship laws in Pennsylvania, Baker, along with Sen. Art Haywood, D-4, recently introduced Senate Bill 506 to provide alternatives to appointed guardianships.

The bill would require courts to automatically appoint counsel to individuals undergoing the guardianship process, consider other less restrictive alternatives before imposing a guardianship, and institute training and screening of professional guardians.

This legislation originated from an unfortunate situation that occurred when Sen. Haywood’s neighbor was taken advantage of by the unscrupulous practices of a professional guardian.

“While guardianship can be an appropriate tool to support some individuals who cannot make decisions themselves, it should be limited and used only as a last resort,” Baker said. “Alternatives to guardianship may prove equally effective at a substantially lower emotional and financial cost.”

During the hearing, testimony was given by professionals in the elder and disability law fields to provide input on the current flaws in Pennsylvania’s guardianship process.

Panelists discussed how Pennsylvania is one of only eight states in the U.S. that does not automatically appoint counsel to represent alleged incapacitated persons, and highlighted the necessity for training and oversight of guardians to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.

“Unfortunately, cases where guardians have stolen or misused money belonging to the people they are legally charged with looking after are not uncommon,” Baker said. “We must have capable people step in and protect their financial interests.”

Senate Bill 506 has received bipartisan approval and is supported by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Disability Rights PA, and other advocacy groups because it helps prevent fraud, abuse, and exploitation, and increases representation.

Casey, Cardin bill would expand Medicaid,

Medicare dental, vision, hearing coverage

U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and Ben Cardin, D-MD, will introduce legislation to enable more Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries to access comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing coverage.

Medicare does not cover those services, leaving many beneficiaries with no other options but to buy stopgap, short-term plans or go without coverage, often facing exorbitant out-of-pocket costs for basic care.

Medicaid can provide optional dental, vision, and hearing services, but the extent of the coverage varies by state. The Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act would allow Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing services and increase the federal investment in Medicaid, incentivizing more states to provide these comprehensive services.

“Because of a patchwork of limited health care coverage options for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, many older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income families have inconsistent access to basic dental, vision, and hearing services,” Casey said. “Cost should not be a barrier to care, and all Americans deserve access to comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing coverage, no matter what state they live in or how much money they make. This bill builds on the promise of Medicaid and Medicare to expand services that people need and help them avoid costly emergencies.”

Research shows that untreated dental, vision, and hearing problems can have negative physical and mental health consequences. People with lower incomes are three times more likely to have four or more untreated cavities than adults with higher incomes or private insurance.

Vision loss is associated with increased fall risks and mobility limitations among older adults, while hearing loss is associated with an increased risk of social isolation and cognitive decline.

The Medicare and Medicaid Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act would strengthen coverage for dental, vision, and hearing services under Medicare by repealing the statutory exclusion that restricts coverage of such services.

It would expand Medicare coverage to ensure beneficiaries are covered for routine exams and other preventive care, as well as coverage for items like dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids.

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Baker hearing looks to strengthen guardianship laws, prevent elder abuse

Gaetz invites Britney Spears to testify before Congress

A judge this week denied Britney Spears' effort to end her father’s role in her conservatorship.

 

#FreeBritney activists protest at Los Angeles Grand Park during a conservatorship hearing for Britney Spears in Los Angeles. | Rich Fury/Getty Images

By BRITTANY GIBSON

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and a handful of other Republicans have invited pop star Britney Spears to testify before Congress about her conservatorship.

"You have been mistreated by America’s legal system. We want to help," Gaetz wrote in a letter to Spears dated Wednesday. "The United States Congress should hear your story and be inspired to bipartisan action. What happened to you should never happen to any other American."

Gaetz said he and fellow Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Burgess Owens (Utah) and Andy Biggs (Ariz.) have been following her conservatorship battle with “deep concern” and stand with the pop star.

Rumors about Spears' discontent with her conservatorship spread for years online and trended with the #FreeBritney hashtag. But last week, Spears spoke directly about the issue herself in court, describing her conservatorship as “abusive.”

Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, has been the legal manager of his daughter’s multimillion-dollar estate since 2008. He was also the conservator “of her person” until 2019, when he stepped back from this part of the legal agreement for his own health reasons. Since then, Jodi Montgomery, a private professional fiduciary, has been in charge of Spears’ person.

In last week’s testimony to Los Angeles Superior Court, Spears described how her conservatorship thwarted her desires to have another child and remove her IUD contraception, get married and take time off from her concerts and touring schedule.

"I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive," Spears told the judge. "I just want my life back. It's been 13 years and it's enough.

Judge Brenda Penny denied Spears’ request to end her father’s role in her conservatorship on June 30.

But because of the revelations in Spears' public testimony, Bessemer Trust, a private wealth management firm, said in a court filing on July 1 that it wishes to resign from its role in managing her estate. Bessemer Trust was added as a co-conservator along with Jamie Spears last fall, but it has not yet received any of her assets or taken any fees, according to the New York Times.

In recent months, a number of conservative lawmakers have taken up Spears' cause, using it to highlight what they have called conservatorship and guardianship abuse.

“Britney Spears wants to tell her story,” Gaetz told conservative TV network OAN on Wednesday night. “She’s not someone who wants to just crawl under a rug a pretend this didn’t happen. She wants accountability and justice, and I can think of no better place than the United States Congress to really tackle this problem and … bring people together from all sides of politics to solve it.”

Gaetz also told OAN that the "Free Britney" movement is part of a broader movement on conservatorship and guardianship reform in Congress.

In March of this year, he and House Judiciary ranking member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) wrote a letter to Chair Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) to ask for a hearing on conservatorship and Spears’ case.

POLITICO asked Spears’ court-appointed attorney whether his client has received the letter and intends to respond, but he has not yet replied.

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Gaetz invites Britney Spears to testify before Congress

Film Producer Seeking Assisted Suicide Stories

The producers of  The Euthanasia Deception documentary (www.VulnerableFilm.com) are working on a new film dealing with the effects of assisted suicide in America. 

Assisted suicide is currently legal in the States of Oregon, Washington, Vermont, California, and the District of Columbia. 

If you or a loved one have felt coerced, experienced abuse, or come back from the brink of death by assisted death, we would like to hear from you. 

Email us a brief description with contact information at VulnerableStories@gmail.com.

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Film Producer Seeking Assisted Suicide Stories