As Florida ages, officials confront growing threat of elder exploitation

Katherine Fernandez Rundle

A string of Miami-Dade arrests for fraud and exploitation highlights the need to protect a growing population of seniors and vulnerable adults, local officials said.

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Commissioner René Garcia, and 11th Circuit State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the latest arrest at a press conference on Wednesday.

"These are our parents, our grandparents, our friends, our neighbors, and they deserve to age with dignity, to feel safe, and to know where they can turn when they need help,” Levine Cava said.

Rundle announced the arrest of a 67-year-old Hialeah man who is accused of defrauding his 88-year-old mother and 90-year-old father of $86,000, before the father died last year.

The suspect “used his position of trust” to access his parent’s bank account and drained nearly “everything the couple had,” Fernandez Rundle said.

Working with county and local law enforcement, Rundle’s Elderly & Vulnerable Abuse Task Force has made nearly a dozen arrests.

Two exploiters are serving prison terms, one 20 years, the other 10.5 years, after being convicted by Miami-Dade juries, the officials noted.

The latest report from an EVA Work Group that was formed in 2022 shows that Florida ranks second only to California in having the largest number of residents 65 or older.

However, Florida has the highest percentage of older residents in the nation, and Miami-Dade, with 17%, or 472,132, leads the state, the report found.

About 22% of Miami-Dade seniors, or 106,000, live alone, making them “prime targets for scammers,” the report notes.

“High-level structural issues,” such as a severe shortage of social workers, contribute to the challenge, as does the population’s susceptibility to abuse by relatives, trusted parties, and caregivers granted power of attorney, the report notes.

“Service providers and regulatory/enforcement agencies that together support older and vulnerable adults are experiencing funding and staffing shortages, many of which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the report found.

Unaffordable long-term care options increase the risk of exploitation, the report notes, as does a “lack of meaningful enforcement by the Agency for Health Care Administration” over assisted living facilities.

Other challenges include:

• A “significantly under-resourced” Department of Children and Families abuse registry hotline.

• An inability to retain “Adult Protective Investigators,” or APIs, who are paid $37,000 and required to use their own vehicles.

• A lack of interagency coordination hampered by confidentiality requirements.

• A high burden to launch a financial exploitation investigation. “If the Power of Attorney (POA) is the exploiter, Adult Protective Services does not have subpoena power to obtain bank records or records from other financial institution.”

The report makes a series of recommendations, including:

• Higher salaries for APIs to help retain qualified staff and reduce wait times on DCF’s Abuse Hotline.

• Creation of a “guardianship-like agency” where a determination of incapacity is not required to meet the needs of those left unserved by the current system.

• Enhanced oversight of congregate living facilities, including “requiring licensing and certification of facilities by regulatory agencies that also provide regular inspections and document compliance.”

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As Florida ages, officials confront growing threat of elder exploitation 

Forest Grove police investigate nursing assistant in multivictim elder exploitation

By Nick LaMora 

Forest Grove police say they have charged Willow McCullough for numerous financial abuse-related charges involving several elderly victims. (File photo)

A certified nursing assistant who worked in multiple senior care facilities across Washington County is facing a slate of felony charges for allegedly financially exploiting elderly residents, according to police.

The Forest Grove Police Department, working with the Beaverton Police Department and the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, is investigating Willow McCullough, who authorities say is tied to multiple cases of financial abuse.

Investigators say the alleged conduct spans several assisted-living and senior care facilities in Forest Grove, Beaverton and the surrounding area, where McCullough was employed as a nursing assistant.

Court records show at least six victims have been identified, and authorities believe there may be more.

McCullough faces 22 charges across two separate cases, including six counts of identity theft, three counts of aggravated identity theft and six counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, as well as three counts of first-degree theft, one count of aggravated first-degree theft and three counts of second-degree theft.

Officials are asking anyone who believes they or a family member may have been affected to come forward. Reports can be made through Oregon’s Adult Protective Services hotline at 855-503-7233 or by contacting local law enforcement. Forest Grove investigators can be reached at 503-992-3260.

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Forest Grove police investigate nursing assistant in multivictim elder exploitation 

Pennsylvania Woman Charged After Elder Exploitation Investigation in Chatham County

Posted by Brighton McConnell 

A Pennsylvania woman is being sought for allegedly using thousands of dollars of an elderly victim’s money to pay her family’s personal business.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office announced charges against 71-year-old Pamela Bagdis of Norristown, Pa. on Tuesday, charging her with five counts of felony obtaining property by false pretense, five counts of felony elder exploitation, and one count of felony larceny. The release said an incident was reported on Jan. 15 that accused Bagdis, who served as a power of attorney for an elderly Chatham County victim, of taking money. An investigation then led to the sheriff’s office’s allegations of Bagdis using the victim’s funding to pay her and her husband’s personal business more than $35,700.

Bagdis’ age and address match that of the spouse to lawyer Bernard “Jay” Baldis of Pennsylvania, who was convicted in 2010 for a tax evasion scheme where he used a group of shell companies to hide more than $24 million of income for himself and 11 clients. The U.S. Justice Department said its investigation found Baldis and his cohort effectively withheld $4.9 million from the Internal Revenue Service and he was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison. Federal court filings from 2018 and Pennsylvania Superior Court filings from 2019 cite Pamela as Bernard’s spouse.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office said Bagdis has not yet been arrested or served and a court date for the charges has not yet been set.

Featured image by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group

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Pennsylvania Woman Charged After Elder Exploitation Investigation in Chatham County

Protect your loved ones: Recent caregiver arrest highlights rising elder exploitation, fraud

By Monica Casey, WRAL reporter 

A Durham County caregiver bonded out $50,000 Thursday on recent charges of exploiting her client for check fraud.

She isn’t the first health aide accused of scamming her clients. 

WRAL News has long covered the unfortunate trend of vulnerable adults needing care who were taken advantage of by their caregivers. 

In 2020, a licensed practical nurse at a Smithfield nursing home was charged with stealing a patient’s identity and accused of racking up loans and credit card charges under his name. 

In 2023, family members of Karen Rogers, who died that year, noticed their mother’s personal belongings, such as jewelry, medication and checks from her bank account, were missing. 

Betsy Robertson was charged after investigators said she used Rogers’ financial information to make several transactions totaling thousands of dollars. Investigators then determined she had previous, similar charges where she was accused of felony larceny from a healthcare client. 

In April 2025, eight people were arrested for stealing $40,000 from an elderly victim in a scam that started in 2023. 

Fraud doesn’t always happen directly to the victim. 

In 2023, Furman Ford was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a years-long conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud and identity theft through his company IAM Healthcare.

Ford oversaw a scheme to trick group homes into providing client Medicare information through IAM, then used the information to submit Medicare claims on behalf of the elderly and disabled beneficiaries.

In total, Ford caused more than $500,000 to be billed to Medicare through his company.

The AARP found that more than 369,000 incidents of financial abuse targeting older adults are reported in the U.S. each year. According to the Federal Trade Commission, overall theft through fraud may have been as high as $158.3 billion in 2023 alone. 

Chatham County Sheriff’s Office staff sergeant over investigations, Rob Miller, said exploitation of the elderly or adults who require private care is happening more often. 

“These people prey on elderly people because they're easily not catching money missing and things like that,” Miller said. 

Some say the primary problem is the shortage of direct care workers.

“The key is to do is due diligence, to make sure that you’ve tried to anything you can, to make sure that the person who is going to be working with you or a loved one, has the best qualifications, has reputable background, you know, all of those kinds of things,” said William Lamb, a board member for Friends of Residents.

He said the reality is, the people who need care are vulnerable.

“Oftentimes, they don’t have the capacity, or they have limited capacity to really fend for themselves.”

Regardless of whether family members invest in private duty care or agency-based care, Lamb said it is important to understand the qualifications of the person they invite into their home or the agency taking care of their loved ones.

“What their background, what their reputation is, what feedback you can get from other employers, so that it’s not just a cold call or a cold response, inviting that person into your home,” Lamb said. “What agency is it? What is the reputation in the community? How long have they been in the community? Are they accredited or certified?”

Lamb said most of the care that is provided is good for the elderly.

"The vast majority of care is given by agencies who have good reputations, and by caregivers who are providing care and support to individuals from their hearts," Lamb said. "This is difficult work at best."

To help protect loved ones from potential fraud by a caregiver or health aid, local and national officials offer the following advice:

• Secure financial documents in a locked file cabinet.
• Always require receipts for purchases made by caregivers or helpers. 
• Regularly monitor bank accounts and telephone bills and review credit reports. Consider an automatic bill pay system or setting up transaction alerts that a trusted third party can also monitor. 
• Do not allow hired caregivers to open mail, pay bills or manage finances. 
• Never lend employees money or personal property.
• Do not allow caregivers to use your credit or debit card for errands or purchases.
• Secure valuables such as jewelry and other valuable personal property.  

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Protect your loved ones: Recent caregiver arrest highlights rising elder exploitation, fraud 

Trion Woman Charged with Theft, Elder Exploitation After $57,000 Reported Missing

A 68-year-old woman is facing felony charges after authorities say she stole more than $57,000 in cash and valuables from her elderly relative in Trion. Margie LaVoughn Yusko, 68, has been charged with felony theft by taking and exploitation of the elderly or disabled, following an investigation initiated on July 21, 2025.

According to the responding deputy’s report, a family member of the alleged victim stated that Yusko had been living in the residence and was suspected of taking a substantial amount of cash, silver coins, and a checkbook. The family member also noted that Yusko had previously been involved in an incident involving fraudulent checks. However, criminal charges were not pursued at that time due to a private repayment agreement.

The elderly resident of the home told deputies that several sums of cash had gone missing over the past few months from multiple hiding places within a bedroom, including:

• $17,000 from a black cash box in the closet (last seen 3–4 months ago)
• $35,000 and 40 Kennedy silver dollars from a tan box on a bedroom table (last seen 2 months ago)
• $5,350 and a checkbook from under a pillow (last seen 3 weeks ago)

The resident reported that only two people had access to the home during that time—himself and Yusko.

When questioned by deputies, Yusko denied any involvement, stating that she would not “be dumb enough” to repeat past mistakes. She claimed the missing items were likely misplaced or lost.

Deputies informed the reporting family member that due to Yusko’s extended stay in the home, a formal eviction process would be required to have her removed. 

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Trion Woman Charged with Theft, Elder Exploitation After $57,000 Reported Missing 

Man wanted for elder exploitation arrested in Florida

Source:
Man wanted for elder exploitation arrested in Florida

FBI arrests Florida man in fraud case, suspect to be charged in Missouri

A Florida man accused of participating in a fraudulent scheme that cost multiple victims more than $550,000 was arrested on Friday.

Michael P. Garcia, 36, of the Miami area, was indicted on December 18, 2024, in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

According to the indictment, Garcia and other conspirators contacted victims and made false claims to obtain cash or valuables. In one instance, they posed as representatives from a victim’s financial institution and falsely stated that the victim’s accounts had been compromised and used for illegal activity. The conspirators then convinced the victim to provide money to prevent further fraudulent activity. Couriers were sent to collect the victims’ valuables.

Garcia is accused of recruiting and compensating a courier who collected $20,000 in cash and gold bars from two victims in Brooklyn, New York, on October 30, 2023. Two days later, the same courier retrieved an additional $30,000 in cash, according to the indictment. In November 2023, Garcia allegedly directed the courier to Summerfield, North Carolina, to collect gold bars from another victim. That same month, the courier was sent to retrieve approximately $200,000 in gold bars from a 76-year-old victim in Fenton, Missouri, who had already provided the conspirators with $20,000 in cryptocurrency, the indictment states. The courier has since been arrested and charged.

Garcia is expected to be transported to St. Louis to face charges.

The FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting it.

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FBI arrests Florida man in fraud case, suspect to be charged in Missouri

Growing older is growing dangerous

Photo by Eduardo Barrios on Unsplash

By OWEN WALSH

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania’s elderly population is rapidly growing; so are the dangers seniors face on a daily basis. Robin Soares, protective services supervisor with the Pike County Area Agency on Aging (AAA), recently called elder exploitation a “rampant” problem “all over the state.”

According to the PA Department of Aging (PDA), between 2016 and 2021, reports of elder abuse increased by 63 percent. Such a dramatic uptick can be attributed to the state’s ongoing educational efforts to help residents recognize and report instances of elder abuse. However, modern technology allows con artists and scammers to employ tactics that get more and more sophisticated and convincing every year, PDA found in a recent study.

Throughout the 2022-23 fiscal year, Wayne County’s AAA has received more than 200 reports of abuse. Financial exploitation accounted for nearly one-fourth of those calls.

Social isolation and loneliness have put older residents at an increased risk as well.

“Even before COVID, but of course with the pandemic, social isolation became even more of an issue,” said Mary Ursich, director of Wayne County AAA. “We’ve seen a lot of romance scams that have been occurring, and people have lost quite a bit of money on those.”

Years ago, PA governor Tom Corbett declared June Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Worldwide, June 15 is recognized as Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Even with efforts in place to raise awareness, many cases of elder abuse, particularly financial exploitation, likely never get reported at all.

“Compared to other forms of abuse, such as child abuse, there is a dire lack of research, not only on financial exploitation of older adults, but on elder abuse in general,” PDA found in a 2020 study on elder abuse. “There is minimal research on national costs, the causes of elder abuse or how to prevent elder abuse.”

The most common forms of exploitation come in the form of unauthorized bank withdrawals, and the perpetrators are most commonly family members. Ursich said that—since it can be emotionally devastating to file a report against one’s own family member—this also contributes to the underreporting of abuse.

“There’s a lot of reluctance to report that type of abuse, and there’s a lot of reluctance to press charges when that type of abuse has occurred,” she said. “It can be very difficult to report a family member to an agency like ours or to the police.”

Just going on conservative estimates from the substantiated cases, financial abuse is still a multi-million dollar drain on the population. Older Pennsylvanians suffered a collective loss of $58 million over the course of the 2017-18 fiscal year.

The elderly population throughout the state is also getting larger. The Census Bureau estimates that 27.5 percent of Pennsylvania’s population will be 60 and older by 2030, an increase of almost 28 percent from 2012. That’s also notably higher than the national percentage of older Americans, around 17 percent.

The local population is quickly getting older too. More than 32 percent of Wayne County residents are age 60 and older. In Pike County, the 65-and-older age group was the fastest growing demographic between 2010 and 2021, increasing by nearly 50 percent.

As the result of the increasing risks that more and more residents are facing each year, PDA recently assembled a financial exploitation task force made up of state agencies; aging, legal, financial, law enforcement and healthcare stakeholders; and other experts, “to discuss the issue of financial exploitation and focus on a multi-disciplinary approach to its prevention.”

Ursich said that a local task force that handles all forms of elder abuse has been in place since 2016 in Wayne.

“[The task force comprises] people from the banking industry, representatives from the hospital, people who provide home health care, people who are part of law enforcement or the district attorney’s office,” she said. “I think that having a local task force has been really helpful.”

While bringing the perpetrators of abuse to justice is important, Ursich said, it’s not always possible. The primary goal is prevention.

“It is difficult to bring some of these crimes to justice, because at times the older adults themselves might have difficulty testifying,” she said. “Of course bringing someone to justice is very important, but that’s not always feasible, so we’re more focused on preventing, reducing the risk and maybe recouping the losses, if we can.”

Ursich in Wayne and Soares in Pike both encourage older residents to utilize the local resources available, especially the various senior centers throughout the region for meals, social activities and educational opportunities to stay updated on avoiding the latest scams.

For information on the local resources available for older adults, Wayne residents can call 570/253-4262 or visit www.waynecountypa.gov. Pike residents can call 570/775-5550 or visit www.pikepa.org.

Wayne residents who think they or someone they know might be the victim of elder abuse can call 800/648-9620. Pike residents can call 800/233-8911. Both counties are available 24/7 to take reports of potential abuse.

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Growing older is growing dangerous

Unlicensed contractor scammed elderly NC victim out of $48K

Travis Galloway(Transylvania Co. Detention Center)

By FOX Carolina News Staff

BREVARD, N.C. (FOX Carolina) - A western North Carolina man pleaded guilty to elder exploitation after scamming an elderly North Carolina victim out of tens of thousands of dollars.

Travis Galloway, 36, took $48,000 from a 72-year-old resident for general contracting services, while investigators said he didn’t have a necessary license. Galloway never completed the work.

Investigators say he had a pattern of similar crimes.

Galloway was charged with the exploitation of an elder adult, obtaining property by false pretense and contracting without a license.

He was sentenced to 19 to 32 months in prison.

 

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Unlicensed contractor scammed elderly NC victim out of $48K

Uncovering Guardianship Abuse

by Anthony Palmieri, JD, CFE, CIG, CIGI, CIGA, CGI, CIA, CCSA

"No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth." – Plato

"Silver Collar Crimes" are financially motivated crimes intentionally perpetrated against elder persons with diminished cognition, using the court system or legal documents. Silver Collar Crimes are a subsection of elder exploitation and include court-adjudicated guardianships, official land records, powers of attorney, wills, and trusts. Substantiated allegations of fraud in guardianships with the notion of court-oversight deteriorates the public’s trust. Collusion and organized schemes in guardianships are arguably the most egregious of Silver Collar Crimes. Persons under guardianship are often the most silent and innocent victims, but sometimes there are ancillary or family victims as well. A smaller division of so-called victims have abhorrently unclean hands or exhibit symptoms of being mentally unhealthy themselves, some whose conduct precipitated their loved one’s guardianship. Schemes occasionally involve unreasonably separating incapacitated persons from family; misusing psychotropic drugs, “off-label” usage of medications, or using over-the-counter anticholinergic medications that exacerbate dementia-like symptoms; or neglecting conditions such as urinary tract infections, depression, hypothyroidism, and diabetes. Aside from children, elderly incapacitated persons are society’s most vulnerable and exploited citizens. Greed, entitlement, rationalization, complacency, overreliance, disinterest, naivety, and negligence are contributing factors to guardianship fraud.

The Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, Division of Inspector General (“IG”) Guardianship Integrity Assurance Team, comprised of highly credentialed professional auditors and investigators, are tasked with rooting out fraud, material errors, and misconduct. The IG team applies generally accepted auditing standards to give assurance that the court can rely on the guardian’s reports. In conjunction with IG accreditation standards, the investigators also utilize a robust investigative framework when the guardian’s reports are materially unreliable, or when validating or discrediting complaints against a guardian. The IG targets anyone willing to prey upon society’s most vulnerable, silent, and innocent persons. The IG has jurisdiction of the approximate 2,800 to 3,200 open guardianship proceedings in Palm Beach County and all alleged misconduct involving the 550 state-registered professional guardians in Florida.

Interjecting independence

The Florida Constitution sets forth the Clerk of Court as an arm of the judiciary, but the elected Clerk is organizationally separate from the judges and court administration.

This independent relationship ensures the public can trust judicial processes such as jury pool selections, evidence handling, and guardianship monitoring. A hallmark of professional auditing and investigating is independence from personal, organizational, and external impairments. Florida’s Clerks have the duty of independently auditing, and, if warranted, investigating the annual guardianship reports filed by court-appointed guardians and advising the court of audit findings. In order for the court to exercise oversight, the guardian’s reports must be reliable to start. This unique combination of jurisprudence, mandatory annual reporting, required auditing, and an independent auditor without impairments from stakeholders including decision-makers, is scarcely found at the national level.

Florida’s aging demographics may help explain the infrequency of these statutory best practices elsewhere. Florida has the largest percentage of residents over 65 years of age in the United States.

Florida is projecting more than 6.6 million senior residents by 2040. Even prior to the first Baby Boomer turning 65 years of age in 2011, Palm Beach County had the largest number of 85 and older persons in Florida, and had 99,849 persons who were 80 or older, nearly the same population as the city of West Palm Beach. At the same time, Florida was tied with two other larger population states at the time, California and New York, for the most centenarians.

Perpetrators of guardianship fraud include guardians, both professional and non-professional, attorneys, family members, caregivers, and others in close contact to incapacitated persons. Alleged fraud by professionals vastly overshadows other parties in television and print media, which gives decision-makers and the general public a distorted view of problems. Additionally, professional guardians are ineffective at publicly defending their conduct because of perceived confidentiality constraints.

Fraud is a human condition

Fraud is not only confined to guardianship professionals. The prominent theory about a person’s decision to commit organizational fraud is the Fraud Triangle. The Fraud Triangle, which can be used to understand guardianship fraud, includes

1. pressure; 
2. opportunity; and
3. rationalization.

All persons within their individualized realized levels of pressure, opportunity, and rationalization will commit fraud.

Under the Fraud Triangle, all persons, regardless of industry, with the right concoction of pressure, opportunity, and rationalization will commit guardianship fraud.

A decade ago, the Palm Beach County Clerk’s IG launched a hotline and hired professional auditors with extensive investigative experience and legal backgrounds to tackle guardianship fraud. The hotline was among the first hotlines in the nation dedicated to guardianship and specializing in investigating guardianship fraud allegations. Since October 2011, more than 1,200 tips were lodged to the hotline, including numerous complaints about a nefarious state-registered and court-appointed professional guardian by the name of Lynrod Douglas.

Apex predator

As she was dialing the last few digits of the hotline’s phoneword, “F-R-A-U-D”,

April Wilson prepared to speak; she listened and followed the prompts prior to talking to an investigator.

“You’ve reached the Guardianship Integrity Assurance Hotline in the Clerk’s Division of Inspector General. To speak to an investigator and file a report now, please press 2.”

“Hello, Clerk’s Inspector General, how can I help you?”

After hearing her cue to speak, April Wilson unloaded the complaint:

“…Lynrod Douglas is my estranged husband’s guardian. Our marital relationship is over. We are separated but have a joint bank account together. Lynrod closed the account. I own half of the $55,000 in the account and Lynrod won’t give me my half…”

Red flags

The IG investigators examine every word of each complaint lodged with the hotline. At first blush, the investigators internally rejected several statutes, court rules, and administrative rules that, if not pursued further, would have casually explained the guardian’s actions. However, one of the core principles of performing independent audits and investigations is diligence. Diligence means making a good faith effort to perform investigative services to the best of the investigators ability, to analyze  complaints critically, and to exercise professional skepticism.

Diligence means leaving no stone unturned. When performing complaint intake, investigators are especially attuned to “red flags.” According to fraud research, a red flag is a set of circumstances that are unusual in nature or vary from normal activities. It is a signal that something is out of the ordinary and may need to be investigated further.  Red flags do not indicate guilt or innocence.

The following are real-life examples of “red flags” identified by the IG during other investigations:

• A non-professional guardian, who was an attorney, rekindled an old high school romance with the daughter of an elderly mother. The daughter was the mother’s caregiver. The mother was a multi-millionaire and the guardian managed the mother’s trust. In the same case, there were two other adult children with financial difficulties, and significant family discord. The guardian charged over $96,000 for administrative tasks in 10-months without objection from the daughter. The daughter was reimbursed by the guardian for voluminous and questionable expenditures totaling over $220,000; for example, steak dinners and apple martinis for two to “maintain the mother’s lifestyle and relationship with her daughter.” However, according to medical records, the mother had severe end-stages-of-life dementia, and a feeding tube was inserted into her stomach for nutrition. The daughter perjured herself by making intentionally false statements that she repaired her mother’s sliding glass door. The investigation found the daughter purchased a $1,065 watermelon tourmaline crystal cabinet specimen, a $3,250 Egyptian sarcophagus, a $1,400 wrinkle-removing laser, $600 for Kentucky bluegrass seed, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars of other frivolous spending.
• A professional guardian, who was an attorney, frequently submitted unavailability notices to the court for hearings and trials in her civil and probate cases when going on vacation and traveling out of the state. The guardian shared details about her travel to places like the Mitchell Corn Palace and the Badlands National Park in South Dakota on social media. The guardian submitted numerous fee petitions for overlapping periods of time and services, and for services that could not possibly have been performed while on vacation and out of the state to North Dakota. The guardian sold the elderly person’s property at a fraction of the fair market value (FMV). The real estate agent, who unbeknownst to the court was the guardian’s son, inadvertently expressed happiness about a cancellation of a contract for the FMV of the elderly person’s house even though he would have been paid an uncustomary 8-percent commission on a higher selling price. The son’s business partners purchased the discounted house, and flipped it for a hefty profit.
• A non-professional guardian, who was the daughter of an elder person, did not disclose that her father owned a large plot of farm land. The daughter quit-claimed the land to herself without a court order. The daughter disbursed large sums of cash to herself as reimbursements for expenses to maintain the property. The daughter perjured herself by making intentionally false statements that she purchased a tractor, fencing materials, a generator, and a storage shed through an on-line marketplace. The daughter actually siphoned and skimmed money from the father’s bank account after receiving negligent legal advice from her attorney.

There were several red flags that surfaced from April Wilson’s report, but the alleged subject of the complaint was not unfamiliar to investigators. Lynrod Douglas had been on the IG’s radar from nearly the moment he registered as a professional guardian with the state. Soon after his first court appointment, the IG received an anonymous tip that Douglas was “trolling” residential settings for his clients and, in hindsight, potential victims.

According to the complaint, Douglas was offering “kickbacks” to front desk and administrative staff to find residents with moderate to severe cognitive declines and no involved family.

A kickback is a payment made to someone who facilitated a transaction with an illicit purpose and is similar to a commission but without the victim’s knowledge. A kickback is not necessarily a criminal violation but can be criminal as well. Nine days later, another blip appeared on the monitoring radar. This hotline complaint came directly from another incapacitated person. Bob Peter, the incapacitated person, walked into the courthouse and to a customer service window to report that Douglas “assaulted” him. The complaint was forwarded to the IG, and a memorandum was immediately docketed into the court record with an administrative recommendation for the court to schedule a hearing with Bob and the guardian. At the status conference, Bob and Douglas conceded to the judge that the episode was just a “misunderstanding” and both parties committed to working better with each other. Later, the Clerk’s operational auditors, who perform administrative audits and reviews on the thousands of guardianship reports filed in Palm Beach County every year, called the IG to complain about Douglas regarding yet another proceeding:

“I’m unsure if Lynrod Douglas is capable to fulfill his duties as a guardian since it seems he’s unable to file an accounting that I can audit and recommend approval to the court.”

Another complaint was filed about Douglas placing an elderly person into a six-bed assisted living facility (ALF) with allegations of deplorable nutritional offerings, restricting visitations, and other allegations. After an unannounced visit to the ALF, IG investigators and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman found nothing alarming, and the IG unsubstantiated the allegations. 

During the course of the investigation, the ALF owners were arrested for elder abuse (physically restraining another elderly resident to a bed) , and it was revealed that a Certified Nursing Assistant notified Douglas about the owners being “verbally abusive” to residents.

Being on the radar transitioned to being in the center of the bullseye, once IG investigators assessed confidential court records, performed an interview with April Wilson, and after the IG subpoenaed third-party records. Bank records revealed that Douglas transacted a teller withdrawal totaling $55,197, and the withdrawal slip was signed by Douglas as “Guardian for the Ward.” Douglas did not disclose any portions of the joint bank account to the court, nor did he list the funds on the initial verified inventory.

Money, money, money

Tracing the money from the source to the final disposition is a fundamental investigative technique. When IG investigators followed the money, they discovered that April Wilson’s money and her husband’s money was placed into a series of personal and business bank accounts owned or managed by Douglas. In other words, Douglas was playing a shell-game with the money, and laundering the ill-gotten funds.

Then, another hotline complaint was received alleging that Douglas took the proceeds from an overpayment for room and board at an ALF after another resident unexpectedly died.

When challenged by a family member, Douglas produced a balanced amended accounting report and a bank statement purporting to show a refund totaling $3,746 was deposited into the bank account. The IG performed an extensive forensic examination on the submitted bank statement and determined the statement was altered and forged. Creating, altering and forging documents is the most prevalent method of asset concealment when perpetrators commit white collar fraud.

The IG subpoenaed the bank statements in question from the original source and confirmed that the filed statement was indeed fictitious and Douglas committed perjury in an official proceeding. The bank statement also confirmed that assets were missing and Douglas committed grand theft.

At this point, the IG investigation, in conjunction with law enforcement detectives, identified a large sum of bank certificates of deposit missing from an initial inventory. The team also discovered more created and altered documents, pointing to illicit disbursements in even more guardianship proceedings. As a part of our accreditation, ethical, and moral standards, the IG will refer allegations of criminal activity to law enforcement when a reasonable suspicion is established. Once Douglas’ modus operandi was identified, other fraudulent conduct quickly surfaced. Douglas was ultimately adjudicated guilty for fifteen counts of exploitation of an elderly person, grand theft, money laundering, and perjury for misappropriating approximately $420,000 from five elderly persons. He used illicit proceeds to pay off a mortgage, buy a property, pay off credit cards, and buy a Mercedes-Benz.

Prior to his arrest, Douglas was reportedly trying to exit the guardianship business because of increasing statewide investigations and oversight; he was planning to open one or more six-bed ALFs instead. On September 29, 2021, the sentencing hearing for Lynrod Douglas was continued since he contracted COVID-19 in jail, was quarantined, hospitalized twice, and remained in the medical unit of the jail. At this point, it is unclear if his sentence will include additional jail time, as a “ward” himself in the Florida Prison System, restitution to victims, community service, and a complete bar from being anyone’s guardian or fiduciary into perpetuity. The IG’s work to better protect incapacitated persons continues regardless.

Optimism for the future

There were several forward-thinking recommendations adopted at the 4^th National Guardianship Summit by voting experts, advocates, and stakeholder delegates of the National Guardianship Network

that will better protect incapacitated people and help prevent fraud. The recommendation with the biggest ripple effect was abolishing plenary guardianships in favor of allowing people to retain the maximum of rights, and if guardianship is necessary, the guardianship orders should be narrowly tailored. The 4^th summit ever so subtly cantilevered the overarching framework of the 2^nd national summit, better known as Wingspan. The majority of delegates at Wingspan, 20 years previously, embraced a controversial viewpoint that the fundamental nature, goals, and methods of guardianship should be adversarial and litigious in nature. The majority argued that guardianship should be hotly contested until the ultimate level of review (or assets) are exhausted. The minority view was that guardianship served a therapeutic and less expensive role; and facilitated benevolent provisions and services for incapacitated persons. The 4^th summit nudged the focus of guardianship away from being guardian-attorney centered and more toward leveling the playing field for incapacitated persons and being person-centered. The legal red herrings “due process” for guardians and attorneys using the incapacitated person’s assets for their defense, non-substantive “ex-parte communications” to assist the court administer proceedings, and excessive concern about “privacy” rights, which tipped the scales in favor of the guardians, attorneys, and more litigation, are slowly transitioning toward being more focused on dignity, respect, restoration, rehabilitation, and autonomy. The inflated price of protection seemingly is not passing the public’s integrity test for the system.

From a fraud perspective, the 4^th National Guardianship Summit embraced the guiding star for professional auditing and investigating by recommending that an independent statewide entity be tapped with investigating guardian misconduct. Additionally, voting delegates nearly unanimously recommended that states emphasize education and training for all involved in guardianships, which is especially important for guardianship auditors, investigators, reviewers, and monitors. The 4^th summit recommended ongoing collection of data, uniform statewide forms, technology to validate reports, flagging potential problems, and continued legal representation at a minimal expense to the incapacitated. If codified into state statute, provisions exemplified by the Palm Beach County Clerk’s Guardianship Integrity Assurance Team and the related 4^th National Guardianship Summit recommendations will continue to fight Silver Collar Crimes occurring in guardianship for the next decade.

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Uncovering Guardianship Abuse

State caseworker arrested on 10 counts of elder exploitation

The man had been employed as an Adult Protective Services caseworker with the Georgia Department of Human Services

by Jason Braverman (11Alive)

TOCCOA, Ga. — The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested an Athens man Wednesday on 10 counts of elder exploitation, they said.

Ronald Thomas, 49, of Athens, Georgia, was booked into the Stephens County Detention Center.
 

Thomas was employed as an Adult Protective Services (APS) caseworker with the Georgia Department of Human Services at the time of the crimes, the GBI said.

On Aug. 21, the Toccoa Police Department requested that the GBI investigate the exploitation of an elderly citizen.

During that investigation, they said agents learned that Thomas was the caseworker assigned to the victim in the case. And, through that role, he was able to steal money from the victim.

The GBI said crimes were committed by Thomas in Union, Stephens, and Clarke counties. 

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State caseworker arrested on 10 counts of elder exploitation

State Police charge man in elder exploitation case

The Rhode Island State Police announced that members of the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit arrested Mark Harmon, age 62, of Pawtucket, on two counts of exploitation of an elder, three counts of unlawful appropriation, and one count of obtaining money under false pretenses over $1,500.

On May 2 of last year the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit received a complaint from the Office of the Attorney General, Elder Abuse Unit regarding Harmon, who allegedly failed to fulfill his power of attorney fiduciary obligations for two elderly Woonsocket women. The victims were financially exploited, drained of their assets and left in significant debt. During his time as power of attorney, Harmon allegedly liquidated $391,727 of U.S. Savings Bonds, sold a victim’s house, liquidated an annuity and misappropriated funds, all while frequenting Twin River Casino with the money. During the investigation, two additional victims were identified, and similar activity was discovered. In total, the four elderly victims incurred a combined loss of more than $600,000.

Harmon was arraigned at Sixth District Court by Judge Isherwood and released on $10,000 personal recognizance. Isherwood also issued no contact orders for the victims. Harmon's next court appearance is scheduled at Providence Sixth District Court on Nov. 23.

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State Police charge man in elder exploitation case

RI State Police Charge Pawtucket Man in Elder Exploitation Investigation

The Rhode Island State Police announced on Wednesday that members of the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit arrested Mark W. Harmon, age 62, of Pawtucket on two counts of Exploitation of an Elder; three counts of Unlawful Appropriation; and one count of Obtaining Money Under False Pretenses over $1500.

Allegedly, he took over $600,000 from his victims while regularly frequenting Twin River.

According to the State Police, on May 2, 2019, the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit received a complaint from the Office of the Attorney General, Elder Abuse Unit regarding Harmon, who allegedly failed to fulfill his power of attorney fiduciary obligations for two elderly Woonsocket women.

The State Police claim, "the victims were financially exploited, drained of their assets and left in significant debt."

According to the State Police, during his time as power of attorney, Harmon allegedly liquidated $391,727.20 worth of US Savings Bonds, sold a victim’s house, liquidated an annuity and misappropriated funds, while frequenting Twin River Casino with the money. During the investigation, two additional victims were identified, and similar activity was discovered. In total, the four elderly victims incurred a combined loss of over $600,000.

A 2016 study found Rhode Island ranks as one of the worst states in the country when it comes to elder abuse protection.

According to a study done by WalletHub, RI ranked 48th out of 51, the study included the District of Columbia.

“Abuse happens every day and takes many forms. Anyone can become a victim of abuse, but vulnerable older Americans — especially those who are women, have disabilities and rely on others for care or another type of assistance — are among the easiest targets for such misconduct. By one estimate, elder abuse affects as many as 5 million people per year, and 96 percent of all cases go unreported,” said WalletHub.

Harmon was arraigned at 6th District Court by Judge Stephen Isherwood and released on $10,000 Personal Recognizance. Judge Isherwood also issued No Contact Orders for the victims. Harmon's next court appearance is scheduled at Providence Sixth District Court on November 23, 2020.

Under Rhode Island General Law 11-68-2 (a) (3), a person found guilty of Elder Exploitation may be imprisoned up to fifteen (15) years and fined up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

Under Rhode Island General Law 11-41-11.1, a person found guilty of Unlawful Appropriation may be imprisoned up to twenty (20) years and fined up to fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), or both.

Under Rhode Island General Law 11-41-4, a person found guilty of Obtaining Money Under False Pretenses may be imprisoned up to ten (10) years and fined up to five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

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RI State Police Charge Pawtucket Man in Elder Exploitation Investigation

Arrests Made in Senior Exploitation Case Following Tip to Attorney General Moody’s Senior Protection Team

News Provided By
Attorney General of Florida
July 21, 2020, 20:52 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Senior Protection Team, Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement today announced two arrests in a case involving the exploitation of a Florida senior. Authorities arrested Audrey Cody and Cody’s adult daughter, Deanna Baptiste, on charges of exploitation of elderly persons, organized scheme to defraud and mortgage fraud as the result of an elder exploitation investigation. The investigation began following a tip to Attorney General Moody’s SPT hotline.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “My office is committed to protecting seniors, working with our partners to bring to justice those taking advantage of older Floridians. The defendants in this case exploited a Florida senior—stealing more than $100,000 from his retirement accounts, life insurance policy and other investments. I want to thank the citizen who reported these crimes to my Senior Protection Team, FDLE for its diligent efforts to investigate the exploitation and my Statewide Prosecutors for doggedly pursuing these charges."

FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen said, “I'd like to commend the tremendous work by our members and by our partners at the Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Senior Protection Team in bringing these defendants to justice. Let these arrests serve as a warning to those who would prey on Florida's seniors that we are vigilant and tireless in protecting our citizens."

The tip leading to the arrests came to Attorney General Moody's SPT just days after the announcement of the new senior fraud fighting unit. The Team took the tip to OSP and FDLE, launching a year-long investigation that uncovered Baptiste and Cody's ongoing scheme to exploit a Florida senior. 

As part of the scheme, the mother-daughter duo worked to gain the trust of the victim. Soon, after being introduced, Baptiste moved into the victim's home in Plantation and promised to provide caretaker services. Baptiste also promised to oversee the maintenance of the victim's property while the victim sought treatment more than three hours away in Tampa. According to the investigation, between November 2017 and March 2019, Baptiste and Cody defrauded and exploited the victim by unlawfully cashing out his pension, retirement account and life insurance policy. The defendants also opened credit cards in the victim’s name, transferred the deed of his home to a limited liability corporation controlled by the defendants and then took out a mortgage on the property.

The defendants utilized the stolen funds, more than $100,000 in total, for personal expenses, such as trips, paying the bills of friends and family, and giving gifts. The investigation revealed that Baptiste even used ill-gotten funds to pay for an online dating service. Both defendants face numerous felony charges, carrying up to a maximum penalty of 125 years in prison.

Attorney General Moody's Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Elisabeth Rodriguez will prosecute the case. If you or someone you know is the victim of elder exploitation, please report the crime to local law enforcement and the Florida Abuse Hotline, by calling 1(800) 962-2873 or report online at
ReportAbuse.dcf.state.fl.us. Complaints can also be submitted to the Attorney General's SPT, by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or by visiting MyFloridaLegal.com. For more information, visit MyFloridaLegal.com/SeniorProtection.
 
The primary focus of the Florida Attorney General’s Senior Protection Team is pursuing senior fraud within the OAG’s civil and criminal enforcement jurisdiction. For elder exploitation issues, typically within the jurisdiction and expertise of local law enforcement or other state agencies, like the Florida Department of Children and Families, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, or the Department of Financial Services, those agencies should be contacted directly.

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Arrests Made in Senior Exploitation Case Following Tip to Attorney General Moody’s Senior Protection Team

Group exploited $264K from elderly St. George woman, charges say

SALT LAKE CITY — Two people face criminal charges and more arrests are expected in an extreme case of elder exploitation in southern Utah.

Prosecutors believe a group of people, led by a man already on parole, exploited an 80-year-old St. George woman out of more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Faye Ann Renteria, 41, of St. George, was charged Thursday in 5th District Court with 10 counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, nine second-degree felonies and one third-degree felony. 

Terrence Quincey Powell, 23, also of St. George, was charged with seven counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, one second-degree felony and six third-degree felonies. 

On Tuesday, investigators learned that several men were taking advantage of an 80-year-old woman, according to a police affidavit filed in 5th District Court. 

“I learned that the elderly woman had written checks and given these male suspects thousands of dollars in checks and currency,” the investigating officer who works for Adult Probation and Parole wrote in the affidavit.

The woman’s family told police she is “not all mentally cognizant, as she has trouble remembering things, following simple conversation topics, counting, etc.,” the affidavit states.

The family was concerned about one man in particular, a man who is married “but was supposedly engaged to the elderly 80-year-old woman,” according to the affidavit.

Investigators only referred to that man as “the parolee” in court documents.

The woman had reportedly signed the family’s cabin over to this man and given him large amounts of money totaling $150,000 in three payments, the affidavit states, as well as other smaller payments. The woman’s family discovered these transactions while helping her with her bank statements.

The victim met the parolee in March after police say he knocked on her door and told her he believed her home needed repairs and he was willing to do it for a fee. 

“The elderly woman hired the parolee to repaint the stucco around her home, paint the window trimmings, resurface the driveway, miscellaneous yard work, etc. The parolee brought over several of his workers, one of which included Terrance Powell, to assist him,” the affidavit states.

As Powell and others were allegedly working, police say the parolee would talk to the woman and convince her to pay for the services upfront. 

“When I interviewed the elderly woman, I took a look at the home and noted that these odd jobs were never completed, and the quality of work was extremely poor. Any reasonable person can see that these jobs will need to be redone” at a cost of “several thousand dollars,” according to the affidavit. ”None of the work is finished, and appears to have caused more damage to her home.”

Powell is accused of continuing to go with the parolee to the woman’s house to perform small jobs.

“For these jobs however, he was paid several thousand dollars at a time for performing meaningless jobs around the house that shouldn’t cost more than $100 in total,” the officer wrote. 

Powell ended up collecting a total of $13,500 from the woman “for work that he should have been paid less than $100,” the affidavit says.

When Powell was arrested, a family member told police that “it was the idea of the parolee and another male suspect who is at large at this time. However, being that the checks were written in Terrance Powell’s name, it shows that he is just as culpable for taking advantage of her,” according to the affidavit.

After Powell was arrested, agents from Adult Probation and Parole “went to attempt to locate the parolee to arrest him,” a second report states.

Investigators went to a residence in Iron County, but “the parolee fled in a vehicle with three other suspects involved in this scheme. Agents only observed them fleeing, and were too far behind to attempt to stop them,” the report states.

Iron County sheriff’s deputies spotted several of the vehicles and were able to stop one driven by Renteria. She was carrying $12,000 at the time of her arrest, according to the report.

Another man, whose name was not released, was later captured, but “the parolee and a second suspect are still at large at this time,” according to Thursday's affidavit. 

When interviewed by police, Renteria said she is the fiancee of the main parolee suspect police were looking for. Investigators noted that she was “living off” the elderly woman and making “extravagant purchases from the very funds that were taken via deception from the elderly woman.”

“Together she and the parolee purchased an $82,000 GMC Sierra truck, which was the same one she was driving when she was arrested. She also admitted that the $12,000 on her person she received from the parolee who got it from the elderly woman the day prior. Faye also admitted to purchasing a 2018 Chevy Camaro, and a side by side RZR,” the affidavit states.

Investigators believe Renteria and the parolee received at least $264,500 from the St. George woman and said additional charges are forthcoming.

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Group exploited $264K from elderly St. George woman, charges say

8 years prison for Nevada woman for elder exploitation

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A 62-year-old northern Nevada woman has been sentenced to up to eight years in prison for guardianship abuse of her 93-year-old father.

Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt announced the sentencing Monday of Vicky Jo Adams of Douglas County for exploiting an older person and converting funds entrusted to her for her personal use between April and December 2017.

Prosecutors say she defrauded John Lindblade of more than $260,000.

In addition to sentencing Adams to 30 to 96 months in prison, Judge James Todd Russell ordered her to pay $264,000 in restitution.

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8 years prison for Nevada woman for elder exploitation

Couple get probation for elder exploitation

A Chatfield couple found guilty of taking more than $274,000 from an elderly family member’s estate were given probation Tuesday.

Jason and Jessica Polikowsky were found guilty of taking funds from Jason’s grandmother, Rose Polikowsky, for their own use. Rose had been suffering dementia when, in 2011, Jason, Jessica and Jason’s father, Donald Polikowsky, persuaded her to give them power of attorney over her estate, according to court records.

Jason and Jessica were given a year in jail each and up to 20 years of probation for 11 counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The two were found guilty in May after a trial but maintained they did nothing wrong through the sentencing hearing.

Jason, reading from a written statement, said his grandmother had always been generous.

“She has been gifting me things since I was a child,” he said.

“I would never have taken advantage of my grandma,” he said. “She meant the world to me.”

Investigators documented more than $150,000 in cash “gifts” to the couple from Rose’s accounts; $75,000 toward a down payment on a house for the couple and more than $21,000 for purchases of business equipment and recreational vehicles. Changes were also made on the beneficiaries on her life insurance accounts and payments were halted on Rose’s Rochester home.

The couple blames Rose’s other children, Gary Polikowsky and Diana Parks, who previously executed her estate, for the financial troubles Rose began to face, according to investigators.

Jason began his statement saying he apologized “to anyone I might have hurt.”

Jessica tearfully repeated Jason’s opening line and said little else.

Rose’s younger sister, Shirley Schroeder, read her victim impact statement before sentencing. In it she recalled her older sister’s sadness as money disappeared.

“She trusted you and you let her down,” Schroeder said. “You took advantage of her love and trust.

“I can’t understand why you would do this to your own grandmother,” she continued. “She was always kind to you.”

Schroeder also recounted how Rose was certain it was Parks and Gary Polikowsky who were draining her estate.

“You continued to plant that seed in her mind,” Schroeder said.

Rose died August 2017. Gary died June this year.

Schroeder said she wished both Rose and Gary were still around to hear an apology from the couple.

Schroeder said after the hearing she was disappointed the couple only received probation but also expressed relief the legal ordeal appeared to be over.

James McGeeney, who represented Jessica and Jason, asked for probation saying the couple would be better able to pay back the estate by staying out of prison and working at Jason’s Chatfield-based business. He said that aside from alcohol-related convictions, Jason has little prior criminal history and that Jessica had no criminal convictions prior to this case.

“I know my clients in their heart of hearts still believe that their grandmother wanted them to have the money,” McGeeney said.

“Keeping them in the community would enable them to both be supervised and make restitution,” he added.

Olmsted County Attorney Mark Ostrem argued for prison time. He questioned the couple’s ability to make restitution.

“The money is gone,” Ostrem said. “It’s all been spent on themselves.”

Ostrem said they continued to buy things for themselves even after Rose began struggling financially.

“They could have stopped,” he said. “They could have taken care of their grandmother as she wished.”

Judge James A. Fabian said the presentence investigation recommended probation despite some of the counts against each carrying up to five years in prison upon conviction. He noted that Donald, who entered an Alford plea in April 2016 to charges against him and agreed to make $66,000, also avoided prison time.

“You have been given the opportunity to make good,” Fabian said. “If you don’t take that opportunity, prison is waiting for you.”

Jessica was ordered to begin serving her 365-day jail sentence April 1 next year with a 45-day stay with work-release privileges. She would continue to serve 45-day terms April 1 each year for the next four years after that. If she is in good standing after serving five 45-day jail terms, the rest of her jail sentence would be forgiven.

Jason was ordered to serve 365 days under similar conditions with his terms being served Nov. 1 beginning next year and Nov. 1 the following years. Both were given credit for jail time served.

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Couple get probation for elder exploitation

Oklahoma woman wanted in 4 counties for fraud, exploitation of the elderly

Anissa Vandenburg

MIDWEST CITY, Okla. — Police are looking for an Oklahoma woman accused of preying on seniors. Anissa Vandenburg is wanted in four Oklahoma Counties for a variety of crimes, including writing bad checks, document forgery, bank fraud, and financial exploitation of the elderly.

Investigators say she’s a skilled con artist who knows how to manipulate others.

“It goes back many years with this woman,” said David Cathey, an investigator with the Office of the District Attorney, 19th District. “She’s a habitual criminal.”

A Midwest City grandmother says she was tricked into giving Vandenburg $8,000 last year.

“Maybe about two or three weeks later, I realized I had been conned,” said LaDonna Bala. “It took me a while to report it because I felt like an idiot.”

Vandenburg worked as a bartender at the Moose Lodge, where Bala is a member. She came over to Bala’s home last April with an elaborate story about why she needed money, and Bala believed her. Bala says she finally realized it was a scam when she looked up Vandenburg’s court records online.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be that open or trusting again,” Bala said.

The experience has affected her financially and spiritually, but she’s hopeful others will learn from her mistake and justice will eventually be served.

“Vandenburg really is something of a sociopath in that she creates a lot of delusions and she’s very convincing to the people she talks to with her delusions,” said Cathey. “She loves to portray herself as a victim.”

Cathey believes Vandenburg is living in Midwest City or Guthrie, and he’s trying to track her down.
“We can’t find her,” he said. “We want the public to pick up the phone if you’ve seen her.”

Vandenburg is possible traveling with her husband, Harold Vandenburg. They may be in a black, 1995 Ford Ranger pick-up truck with Oklahoma tag number CFE418.

If you see them, you’re asked to call police.

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Oklahoma woman wanted in 4 counties for fraud, exploitation of the elderly