Rochester Woman Accused of Taking $16,000 From Ailing Relative

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An arrest warrant has been issued for a Rochester woman accused of financially exploiting a vulnerable adult.

Granted Power of Attorney After Victim Admitted to Memory Care

A criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court details the allegations against 39-year-old Danielle Linae Nimox-Johnson involving the finances of an elderly relative who was "living out her final days in a memory care facility." The felony charge indicates Nimox-Johnson had been granted power of attorney and was responsible for managing the ailing relative's finances and paying her bills.

Suspicious Withdrawals From the Victims Bank Accounts

Instead, Nimox-Johnson is accused of using funds from the victim's bank accounts to pay her own housing expenses and other personal costs after the individual was admitted to the memory care facility in October 2025. According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office identified numerous withdrawals for rent payments on an apartment used by Nimox-Johnson, as well as debit transactions for Uber and Lyft rides and DoorDash payments.

Photo by Andy Brownell TSM Rochester

Charges Involved More Than $16,000

The criminal complaint also includes calculations provided to the investigator by a witness in the case. According to those calculations, Nimox-Johnson allegedly withdrew more than $16,000 from the victim's bank accounts between October 2025 and June 2026, when the accounts were frozen.

The court document states that Nimox-Johnson's last known location was in Wisconsin, but her current whereabouts are unknown. 

Full Article & Source:
Rochester Woman Accused of Taking $16,000 From Ailing Relative 

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison charges 9 providers with Medicaid fraud

Author: David Griswold, Lou Raguse

ST PAUL, Minn. — Out of the Miracle Mile Shopping Center in St. Louis Park, therapist Peter Meilahn allegedly began his fraud scheme while working as an independent contractor at Franklin Family Services.

According to a criminal complaint, Meilahn received information from a mother about her seven kids, then billed Medicaid for nearly three years, claiming to provide them psychotherapy services. 

But the mom says they never once saw Meilahn.

"Patients listed in Meilahn's claims told us time and time again that Meilahn did not provide the services he claimed to provide," Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said. "Some said they never had a single session with Meilahn."

Between the Twin Cities and his office in Duluth, Meilahn is accused of submitting 27,400 false claims for services he never provided, fraudulently collecting more than $2.2 million in taxpayer money. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) said it issued a payment withholding for Meilahn and his company on Aug. 13, 2024, and terminated Medicaid enrollment in January 2026. But he's still listed as having an active therapist license in Oregon.

Meilahn is one of nine people charged with defrauding the Medicaid program out of more than $3 million. According to Ellison's office, the charges were filed by its Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), which has jurisdiction to investigate Minnesota providers suspected of committing Medicaid fraud.  

“The many charges we are filing today allege various amounts of fraud, but even one dollar stolen in defrauding a government program is too much,” Ellison said in a press release. “It outrages me that some people steal taxpayer money that we as a society have decided should support low-income folks who need specialized services so they can live with dignity, safety, and respect."

Awo Mohamed, of Roseville, is charged with six felony counts of theft after prosecutors say she bilked the Minnesota Medical Assistance program out of more than $675,000 through false claims through her assistant services agency, Always on Time. According to court documents, Mark Johnson, Qalid Hassan and Angela Johnson all conspired with Mohamed and have been charged.

“Medicaid fraud is not only a theft of taxpayer dollars, but a violation of trust that harms those who rely on these vital services,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas Ethridge of the U.S. DHS Office of Inspector General in a press release. “The coordinated work of our local, state, and federal partners in bringing these charges shows that anyone who exploits Medicaid, whether through multimillion-dollar schemes or by abusing the people they are entrusted to care for, will be held fully accountable."

The Minnesota DHS said it issued a payment withholding for Always on Time and Mohamed on Sept. 7, 2023, and terminated Medicaid enrollment on Sept. 3, 2024. The department said it also terminated AK Care Center, Mohamed's Housing Stabilization Services program, at the same time.

"I applaud the actions announced today by the Attorney General’s Office," said Minnesota DHS Inspector General James Clark in a statement. "Assembling strong cases against perpetrators of fraud takes time, intelligence, resources and close collaboration among many government agencies. When the department found credible evidence of fraud involving businesses at the center of today’s charges, we shut off the money and terminated the providers."

Ellison also announced charges against Kiddjazzmannie Freeman, who is accused of stealing more than $17,000 for services not done, as well as exploiting a vulnerable adult out of $11,000 for personal purposes. Freeman is also charged with failing to provide healthcare and supervision, and allegedly stole the vulnerable adult's identity to obtain an EBT card. 

Michelle Reed and Letrice Spigner, both of Minneapolis, and Chala Alemo, of St. Paul, are accused of reporting services that were never provided. According to the charges, Reed and Spigner said they provided services while clocked in at other jobs. 

"I want everyone to hear this loud and clear: if you commit Medicaid fraud in the state of Minnesota, we will investigate you, we will prosecute," Ellison said during a press conference Tuesday. "We've got more resources and more people power than ever to take these crimes forward." 

Full Article & Source:
Minnesota AG Keith Ellison charges 9 providers with Medicaid fraud 

These Places Banned Subminimum Wage. Here’s What Happened To Workers With Disabilities

 by Michelle Diament

Charlie McGrory, left, who has Down syndrome, and his brother Andy, who is also his job coach, bag groceries at Hy-Vee in Winona, Minn. in 2018. Charlie McGrory previously worked at a sheltered workshop, but transitioned to integrated employment as a result of a 2014 federal law that prioritizes helping people with disabilities find jobs in the community. (David Joles/Star Tribune/TNS)

More than a dozen states have moved in recent years to stop employers from paying workers with disabilities less than minimum wage. Now, it’s starting to become clear how that decision is playing out on the ground.

A first-of-its-kind analysis finds that eliminating what’s known as subminimum wage employment does not lead to a significant drop in the number of people with disabilities who are employed, the hours they work or their wages.

Within two years, subminimum wage employment fell by about 2,000 workers per state, according to findings published in the June issue of the journal Labour Economics. At the same time, income from government welfare programs declined by more than 12%.

“The biggest takeaway from our study is that the employment fears that have kept section 14(c) in place at the federal level are not supported by the national data,” said Michelle Yin, an economist at Northwestern University who led the study. “The policy does exactly what it is designed to do, that is sheltered workshop employment falls, … but workers do not disappear from the labor force. They remain employed, and by different measures, they become more economically self-sufficient.”

The study offers a new look at a practice that has persisted for nearly a century. Under a federal law dating back to 1938, employers can obtain special 14(c) certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor allowing them to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour.

Since 2015, however, 17 states have enacted legislation eliminating 14(c) certificates, according to the Association of People Supporting Employment First. The Biden administration sought to take things a step further by ending the program nationally. In 2024, the Labor Department proposed plans to stop issuing new certificates and phase out 14(c) over three years.

Now, the winds appear to be shifting. The Trump administration withdrew the Labor Department plan last year and the House Committee on Education and Workforce advanced a bill in May designed to make it easier for young adults with disabilities to enter 14(c) employment.

For the study, Yin and her colleagues looked at administrative data from the Department of Labor and the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey from 2009 to 2024 on 15 states that eliminated subminimum wage employment. Each state ended subminimum wage on a different timetable, but notably, the patterns the researchers observed were remarkably similar across states no matter their size or political leanings.

However, Yin admits that the outcomes aren’t entirely rosy for everyone.

“The aggregate results likely reflect two groups moving in different directions,” she said. “Workers with higher productivity and more labor market experience appear to find competitive employment. Workers with the most significant disabilities and the least experience outside sheltered settings may exit employment rather than transition. The averages look encouraging, but averages can mask who gets left behind.”

That’s where the approach a particular state took matters, Yin said. In states that prioritized supported employment, job coaching and vocational rehabilitation alongside eliminating subminimum wage, individuals were more like to transition to new employment, while states that neglected to build such infrastructure left some workers without appropriate options.

Still, Yin says the findings broadly support moving away from subminimum wage.

“The feared employment collapse has not materialized in any of the 15 states we studied,” she said. “The transition from subminimum wage to competitive employment pays for itself when the investment is in place.”

But Hugo Dwyer, executive director of VOR, which supports the availability of subminimum wage employment, said the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

“We need to somehow look at the human side, and measure satisfaction and the opportunity for personal growth,” he said, adding that it’s important for individuals with disabilities to have choices.

“No one has to work in a sheltered workshop if they don’t want to,” Dwyer noted. “But they are right for a certain cohort of individuals who have a combination of skills that exceed those exercised in day programs and challenges that make it difficult for even the most patient employer to accommodate them.” 

Full Article & Source:
These Places Banned Subminimum Wage. Here’s What Happened To Workers With Disabilities

One state is making it easier for grandma and grandpa to drink in their assisted living home

by Graig Graziosi

One state is making it easier for grandma and grandpa to drink in their assisted living home

Minnesota just passed a law that will make it easier for grandma and grandpa to imbibe and relax at their nursing homes and assisted living communities.

Governor Tim Walz signed the "Grandparents' Happy Hour" measure into law on Tuesday, according to CBS News.

The law will allow individuals living in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and boarding care facilities to serve alcohol to residents during social events. The facilities have to notify the state of their intent to serve and adhere to the state's safety standards, but won't have to navigate the state's usual liquor licensing restrictions.

The law goes into effect on August 1. It's unclear how many facilities plan to implement alcohol into their social offerings.

The wording of the law makes clear that the alcohol offered is to be served, not sold, to residents; senior care facilities in Minnesota will not be turning into bars."

"[I]ntoxicating liquor may not be sold, offered for sale, or otherwise provided for any form of consideration," the law says.

While many states do allow limited service of alcohol in senior care facilities, the decision to serve largely is left to the discretion of the individual facility.

The legislation was reportedly inspired by Amira Choice, a senior living community, which offered happy hours for its seniors but couldn't legally serve alcohol because there was no apparatus in place for them to obtain a liquor license, CBS reports.

"Growing older shouldn't mean giving up the traditions and freedoms you've enjoyed your whole life," Walz said during a press event. "This law cuts unnecessary red tape so senior living communities can spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time creating opportunities for residents to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, happy hours, and everyday moments together. It's about dignity, independence, and recognizing that community is an essential part of quality care," he added.

Anita LeBrun, an 82-year-old woman who testified on behalf of the legislation, celebrated the adoption of the law.

"Today we raise our glasses, not just for happy hour, but for independence," she said. "This law affirms that living in assisted living doesn't mean giving up the everyday pleasures that help us live life on our own terms."

She said that happy hours let seniors connect, laugh, and share stories from their lives.

"It brings friends together and helps make everyday moments special," she added.

Supporters of the law argue that it will provide seniors in assisted living or nursing homes with more freedom and opportunities to socialize within their communities. 

Full Article & Source:
One state is making it easier for grandma and grandpa to drink in their assisted living home 

Minnesota providers build their own international pipeline to ease nursing shortage

by Donna Shryer

 

Roger White and Kari Thurlow

Four Minnesota aging services providers aren’t waiting on the labor market or Washington to solve their staffing crisis. They created their own international nurse-recruitment organization and are now partnering with LeadingAge Minnesota to expand the model. 

The move is a long-range response to more than 11,000 unfilled aging services positions in Minnesota and growing workforce pressures nationwide as the population ages.

LeadingAge Minnesota Solutions, the business services subsidiary of LeadingAge Minnesota, and Global Care Recruiters (GCR) announced on July 8 a strategic partnership to expand ethical international nurse recruitment for aging services providers. GCR was founded by four LeadingAge Minnesota member organizations — Guardian Angels Senior Services, Mount Olivet Careview Home, Prairie Cottages and Vista Prairie Communities — as a provider-led recruitment organization. 

Under the partnership, LeadingAge Minnesota Solutions will provide executive leadership and operational support while GCR remains independently governed.

The model is still in its early stages: 59 nurses are currently in the immigration pipeline, a process that typically takes about 22 months. 

The first arrivals are expected in Minnesota this winter, followed by a steady monthly pace, with the pipeline projected to grow to 100 to 120 nurses by spring 2027, said Roger White, Executive Director at Mount Olivet Careview Home and one of the founders of Global Care Recruiters. 

He said there’s also potential to expand the provider-led model to additional US markets within five years. 

White called the effort a “huge and critical investment,” noting that even with nurses beginning to arrive this winter, reaching full workforce impact remains a multi-year effort.

Foreign recruitment veterans

For about 20 years, Mount Olivet Careview Home has employed a large number of African immigrants, said White. That experience shaped his reaction when he learned a National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) testing center was set to open in Nairobi, Kenya — a key step toward US licensure for nurses there.

White traveled to Kenya in January 2024 for the center’s opening. Nurses and university officials there described cases in which prospective recruits paid as much as $1,000 for promises of US jobs, sometimes after families sold property or depleted their savings, only to be ghosted, he said. Others who did make it to the US arrived without social support or anyone to help them settle in.

After returning from Kenya, White said, the group discussed the stories they had heard. Those conversations, held during a dinner at the LeadingAge Minnesota convention, led them to explore a model that would charge nurses no recruitment fees and provide sustained support before and after arrival. 

They also chose to recruit specifically for long-term care. White said traditional recruiters work across healthcare settings, where higher hospital wages can sway nurses toward hospital jobs.

Long-term investment

The investment doesn’t end once a nurse is recruited. White recommended monthly meetings with nurses throughout the visa process, followed by intensive support during their first 90 days in the US. That includes help with licensing, transportation, food, mentoring and community connections.

Contracts also need to be clear, White said. Terms should be transparent, expectations clear and pay compliant with prevailing-wage requirements. Prospective recruits who are wary of exploitation may be especially alert to ambiguity in an offer, he said.

Kari Thurlow, president and CEO of LeadingAge Minnesota, said ethical recruitment also demands honest self-assessment on the employer’s side. 

“Are we ready to really create environments for people who are uprooting their lives and moving halfway across the globe to start a new life?” she asked.

Welcoming, inclusive workplaces matter for retention, Thurlow added, but also because employers owe recruits the best possible chance to succeed after making such a major life change. She said LeadingAge Minnesota contributes employer education, peer learning opportunities, welcoming-workplace resources and advocacy for more workable immigration policy.

Navigating immigration policy

To bring nurses from Kenya to the US, the founders chose the EB-3 visa category — a slower route, but one that offers a pathway to permanent residency and, potentially, citizenship. White described that as a deliberate tradeoff for a model built around long-term workforce stability.

The founders and their immigration legal advisers also weighed political relationships between the US and potential source countries before concentrating on Kenya. White cited the US-Kenya political and security relationship as a reason the country appeared comparatively stable.

International recruitment also can raise concerns about depleting the healthcare workforce of source countries. White said the founders are working with Kenyan government representatives to monitor that impact. Some nurses may eventually return home with experience gained in US long-term care, he added — potentially opening clinics or contributing to Kenya’s developing eldercare system.

“Don’t just think about solutions that serve yourself,” said Thurlow, recalling a visit by Kenyan government officials, “but think about how we can create win-wins across the oceans for both countries.” 

Full Article & Source:
Minnesota providers build their own international pipeline to ease nursing shortage 

Former Cloquet police officer found guilty of taking advantage of elderly person

By Matt McConico 

SAINT PAUL & CLOQUET, Minn. – Former Cloquet Police Officer Laci Marie Silgjord was found guilty of one count of felony attempted theft by swindle.

Silgjord exploited a now-deceased 78-year-old vulnerable adult.

She gained access to victim’s bank accounts and attempted to inherit the estate worth more than $150.000, despite Ms. Armey having surviving family.

Silgjord was financially exploiting Joan Arney, at the time a 78-year-old with dementia, Silgjord met through her employment as a then-Cloquet police officer.

The state said four months after meeting the victim, Silgjord represented herself to a bank as her fiduciary, despite having no legal authority for this role, and gained access to the victim’s bank accounts.

Silgjord will be sentenced at a date to be determined.

The Carlton County Attorney referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. It was tried jointly by Medicaid Fraud and Criminal Division.

Timeline of the accusations against Silgjord from the Attorney General’s Office:

As outlined in the  criminal complaint and as proven at trial, Silgjord first met the victim in May 2020 when Silgjord responded to the victim’s residence for a call regarding a stolen purse. By January 2021, Silgjord had attempted to obtain the victim’s entire remaining estate despite the victim having surviving family and no written estate plan awarding anything to Silgjord. This was despite a Cloquet Police Department policy that in order to “avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest members of this department shall refrain from developing or maintaining personal or financial relationships with victims, witnesses or other individuals during the course of, or as a direct result of, any official contact.” 

Then-Officer Silgjord first encountered the victim on May 5, 2020, when she responded to a call about a stolen purse.  On June 2, 2020, Silgjord performed a welfare check at the victim’s house upon the request of the victim’s half-brother. Silgjord and other officers conducted a second welfare check on August 25, 2020, when they found the victim in very poor condition, including that she had suffered a stroke and had deficits in memory and attention. The victim was immediately transported to the hospital.  

On September 4, 2020, the hospital petitioned for guardianship for the victim due to “severe memory and orientation deficits which make her unable to make higher level decisions about her medical care.” At a court hearing on the guardianship, Silgjord stated that a social worker at the hospital asked Silgjord to be the victim’s guardian. The Court appointed Silgjord as guardian on September 11, 2020, which allowed her to perform duties related to personal care and custody. Silgjord was never appointed as a conservator to make financial decisions for the victim or manage the victim’s money, however. 

Throughout September 2020, Silgjord recorded multiple bedside conversations with the victim.  During one conversation, the victim said she did not know where she was, did not know her maiden name, did not know her father’s name, and did not remember how old her son was when he died.  Silgjord also showed the victim a photograph of herself when she was younger; the victim did not recognize herself. During this conversation, Silgjord told the victim that she was her “new grandma” and that she loved the victim.  The victim responded that she loved Silgjord and that she wanted to take care of her. 

In late September 2020, Silgjord presented guardianship paperwork to the victim’s bank. She documented on a form titled “Fiduciary Accounts Application & Agreement” that she was the victim’s fiduciary and that she had the authority to access the victim’s accounts.   

Medical records in October 2020 documented the victim’s continued regression, and at times noted she was hallucinating. On October 28, 2020, the victim passed away with no surviving children and no will. Silgjord did not notify the victim’s estranged husband and next of kin about the victim’s death.   

Shortly after the victim’s death, Silgjord met the victim’s estranged husband at a restaurant. The Court’s order appointing Silgjord as guardian indicated that her guardianship expired upon the victim’s death — yet Silgjord claimed to the victim’s estranged husband that she was “in charge” of ensuring the victim’s wishes were carried out. Silgjord also refused to give the estranged husband the keys to the victim’s house. When the estranged husband asked Silgjord about submitting paperwork to access the victim’s bank accounts, Silgjord responded that he could “probably not” do this “because I am on the account.”   

On November 24, 2020, the victim’s estranged husband went to the victim’s house, where he encountered Silgjord. Silgjord falsely claimed she had a guardianship and conservatorship over the victim, refused to provide him the keys, and said that she would not do so “until the courts make me sign it over.” 

On December 18, 2020, Silgjord filed a petition seeking to be appointed personal representative of the victim’s estate. Silgjord claimed the estate was indebted to her for guardianship expenses. Some of compensation sought by Silgjord included time she supposedly spent on the guardianship while Silgjord was on duty as a police officer. 

On January 28, 2021, Silgjord filed a claim against the victim’s estate for $71,601.58, which she estimated to be the estate’s total value. In describing her claim, Silgjord wrote “Prior to Joan’s death she told me she loved me & wanted to take care of me & my family. I was Joan’s friend & court appointed guardian.”    

On March 9, 2021, Silgjord filed a second claim seeking an additional $86,611.70 from the estate, which represented the total of the inheritance the victim was set to receive from her stepmother’s estate. In describing this claim, Silgjord wrote, “I was Joan’s court appointed guardian & took care of her prior to her death. There is no formal will but Joan told me & my husband she loved us and wanted to take care of us. I have this recorded on my cell phone.”   

The Court denied Silgjord’s claims against the victim’s estate. Silgjord’s employment as a Cloquet police officer ended in June 2022.  

Full Article & Source:
Former Cloquet police officer found guilty of taking advantage of elderly person 

Minnesota law meant to help prevent financial exploitation of vulnerable adults now in effect

The law creates an expedited process to prevent someone from financially exploiting a vulnerable adult. 

Author: Ian Russell

MINNESOTA, USA — With the new year comes new laws in Minnesota, ranging from the workplace to farmers.

There's also a new law centered around protecting vulnerable adults from financial exploitation.

"This is putting the power in the hands of the victim or trusted contacts that are close to them to help protect them," Jill Sauber, a certified elder law attorney, said.

The law creates an expedited process by petitioning the court for an injunction.

"The court can order either an order for protection, injunctive relief, they can freeze assets," she said. "They can do all of that very, very quickly, which is not really possible in those other ways that we approach these cases."

Sauber says that would normally take longer, potentially involving an emergency conservatorship or protective order.

"Things that take days, even though it's an emergency hearing, and in that amount of time, just a few days, is enough time for the transaction to take place, the money to go out the door, and then we have nothing to try to recover," she said.

Sauber helped push for the law, based on a law in Florida. She says it also comes from her own work experience.

"I'm seeing more and more scams and exploitation in my practice," she said. "I think at least anecdotally, we all have."

State data from the Vulnerable Adult Protection Dashboard shows the number of allegations involving financial exploitation, whether fiduciary or not, increasing over the last several years.

This is meant for vulnerable adults over the age of 18, a group defined under state statutes.

"They require some care, either in a care facility, institution, group home," Sauber said. "Or they have some sort of mental or physical infirmity that makes it hard for them to protect themselves, so they are vulnerable."

Documents to file that petition are currently available on the Minnesota Courts website, and can be accessed here, at the bottom of the webpage.

"I think this is going to be a really important tool for people to step in on behalf of somebody they love or the victim themselves, and be able to take immediate action." 

Full Article & Source:
Minnesota law meant to help prevent financial exploitation of vulnerable adults now in effect 

Sacred Heart, Minnesota, man alleged to have financially exploited family member

According to the Attorney General’s Office, Steven James Berg diverted nearly $98,000 from a family member’s bank accounts for his own personal use, while her nursing home bills went unpaid. 

By Dale Morin

ST. PAUL — A man from Sacred Heart has been summoned to appear in court on three felony charges of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Dec. 9 that the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in his office will prosecute the case.

An investigator in that unit put the total of exploited funds at nearly $98,000.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Chippewa County District Court, Steven James Berg, 54, is alleged to have misused $90,084.58 from the accounts of a family member from February through September of 2024. The complaint alleges he used the funds for his own benefit, while dodging payments for the woman’s nursing home care and other medical bills.

Berg was a co-signer of her financial accounts and held power of attorney at the time.

Berg then allegedly misappropriated an additional $7,710.66 from the woman’s new bank account, between September 2024 and March 2025, by pressuring her after finding out he had lost his privileges related to her accounts.

According to the complaint, Berg had gone as far as to use funds from her accounts to pay his own property taxes in Chippewa County.

According to a news release from the office of the Attorney General, Chippewa County Attorney Matthew Haugen referred the case in July of 2025 to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit — which works to uncover, investigate, and prosecute individuals or organizations that steal from Medicaid funds and exploit, neglect or abuse vulnerable victims.

The Montevideo Police Department, Chippewa County Social Services and Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office also helped investigate the case.

In a written statement Attorney General Ellison said, “Everyone deserves to afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect, but all too often financial exploitation robs older Minnesotans of those essentials.”

Ellison continued, “additionally, these cases often involve a profound betrayal of trust, since that exploitation often comes from someone the vulnerable adult trusted to manage their finances. Steven Berg’s theft and betrayal ... is appalling and my office and I will do everything in our power to ensure he faces justice for his crimes.”

According to court documents available online, a summons has been issued to Berg. His first appearance is currently scheduled for Jan. 5, 2026.

The background detailed in the criminal complaint begins with the then-81-year-old woman spending six nights in a hospital after she suffered injuries from a fall. She subsequently moved into a nursing home on Feb. 7, 2024. She had lived alone at a single-family residence before being admitted to the nursing home.

Her medical history noted that by that time she was having issues of memory loss. Staff at the nursing home noted she required lots of assistance with activities.

A nursing home staff member first reported concerns to Montevideo police in August of 2024 after obtaining bank records to help the woman apply for Medicaid assistance and was concerned with the amount of cash withdrawals Berg had made. According to the complaint, Berg had made more than 100 cash withdrawals between January and August of 2024.

When asked by staff about the withdrawals, Berg replied that he was using the funds to pay his family member’s remaining hospital bills. However, a review of bank and hospital records showed that the hospital had stopped receiving any payments for the medical costs in February 2024.

According to the complaint, Berg only made one payment of $2,725 from her accounts to cover her nursing home and medical bills. During the period, he was still listed as a co-signer and had power of attorney, and the accumulated overdue bills totaled more than $90,000.

Police interviewed Berg after receiving reports in August 2024. According to the complaint, Berg admitted to using some of the cash withdrawals on himself, but did not specify how much money he used. He told officers that some of the money had been used for maintenance on the woman’s house but was unable to provide any receipts.

In two interviews with Montevideo police, the 81-year-old woman confirmed that Berg was her only adult relative in the area who could help take care of her. She also indicated that she was unaware she was behind on her nursing home bills. On Sept. 13, 2024, she confirmed to Montevideo police that she did not want Berg withdrawing money from her accounts going forward.

In the fall of 2024, employees whose accounts were held took notice of Berg’s withdrawal activity and initiated their own internal investigation of those transactions. During the investigation, employees requested Berg conduct all his cash withdrawals in person.

After account balances became negative, a teller supervisor opened a new account for the woman and advised her to keep Berg off the new account. According to the complaint, Berg was never a co-signer on the new account.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit reviewed investigative files from Montevideo police and Chippewa County Family Services, along with records from several other financial and health organizations, to determine to what extent Berg had used the woman’s accounts for her benefit.

Beginning in 2024, her bank and brokerage accounts had a collective balance of more than $53,000 and she was receiving more than $1,800 a month in her checking account from the Social Security Administration at the end of every month, through August of 2024.

In the fall of 2024, nursing home staff urged Berg to sell her house in order to pay off the overdue balance she owed the nursing home at that time. According to the complaint, the sale of her house closed on March 12, 2025. After a majority of the money had gone to pay off her debts, a little over $18,000 was deposited into her new account, for which Berg was not a co-signer.

However, 12 days after the home sale, Berg arranged for the woman to meet him at her financial institution. Records showed that $6,920.66 was withdrawn from the new account during their visit that day.

According to the complaint, $2,000 went to Berg for “reimbursement of funds” and the remaining amount went to the Chippewa County Treasurer. The memo line on the cashier’s check to the Treasurer’s Office read, “STEVEN BERG PROP TAXES.”

Four days later on March 28, 2025, Berg arranged for the two to again meet where her accounts were held. According to financial records, Berg requested that $5,000 be withdrawn from her new account, but employees permitted only $500 to be withdrawn during their visit that day.

By April of 2025, a fraud and risk manager cut a check from the woman’s new account, to cover her room and board at the nursing home through August of 2025, and closed the account. The nursing home where she resides then became her new representative payee.

According to at least one witness, Berg had historically received financial support on and off from the woman. According to the complaint, a review of records at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development showed Berg had not reported any employment or wages since the third quarter of 2024. Records also showed he had not held full-time employment since the second quarter of 2019, at the latest. 

Full Article & Source:
Sacred Heart, Minnesota, man alleged to have financially exploited family member 

Attorney General Ellison files charges against man who financially exploited his mother

 

Chippewa County man diverted funds from elderly mother’s account for his own use while her nursing home bills went unpaid; case referred to AG Ellison from Chippewa County Attorney

December 9, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has charged Steven Berg with three counts of felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. From February 1, 2024 through March 2025, Berg, who served as a power of attorney and co-signor on financial accounts for his mother, M.B., used over $90,000 of M.B.’s money for purposes that did not benefit her. Berg’s scheme included arranging rides for M.B. from her nursing home to the bank that housed her accounts, where Berg would meet M.B. and withdraw thousands of dollars from M.B.’s account. While Berg used these funds for personal purposes, including paying his own property taxes, M.B.’s nursing home bills went unpaid. 

In July 2025, Chippewa County Attorney Matthew Haugen referred the case to Attorney General Ellison’s MFCU under Minnesota Statutes Sec. 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.”

“Everyone deserves to afford their lives and live with dignity, safety, and respect, but all too often, financial exploitation robs older Minnesotans of those essentials,” said Attorney General Ellison. “The financial exploitation of vulnerable adults causes severe financial harm that threatens those adults’ ability to keep a roof over their heads, pay medical bills, and so much more. Additionally, these cases often involve a profound betrayal of trust, since that exploitation often comes from someone the vulnerable adult trusted to manage their finances. Steven Berg’s theft from and betrayal of his own mother is appalling, and my office and I will do everything in our power to ensure he faces justice for his crimes.”

The Montevideo Police Department, Chippewa County Social Services, Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office, and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit all participated in the investigation of this case.  It is being prosecuted by AG Ellison’s MFCU.

Attorney General Ellison’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works to uncover, investigate, and prosecute individuals or organizations that steal from Medicaid and that exploit, neglect, or abuse vulnerable victims. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,078,704 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2026. The remaining 25%, totaling $1,692,898 for FY 2026, is funded by the State of Minnesota.

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Attorney General Ellison files charges against man who financially exploited his mother 

KARE 11 Investigates: Death raises new fraud allegations in Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded ICS program

As costs soar and audits expand, one mother says her son’s death reveals the real-world price of neglect and alleged fraud. 

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KARE 11 Investigates: Death raises new fraud allegations in Minnesota’s Medicaid-funded ICS program 

Report says Duluth home care worker charged thousands to client’s bank card

By WDIO

The Minnesota Department of Health says they’ve substantiated a report of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult in Duluth, and that it was an individual responsibility.

The report claims that a home care worker allegedly used a client’s bank card for personal expenses. At the time, he had been working for Cornerstone Caregiving.

The Department says the worker was responsible for the maltreatment, and took the card on their first day working in the client’s home. The worker then charged over ten-thousand dollars to the client’s account to pay for tuition and online purchases.

They also say the client’s record indicated that a home care agency was hired to assist with daily services due to a recent fall and the client’s blindness, and that the worker provided services in the home a total of three times.

Financial records showed fraudulent bank charges were made out to the worker’s education institution from the client’s account.

Law enforcement say they plan to criminally charge the worker, but they are not in custody as of last update.

We did get a statement from Cornerstone Caregiving, which reads: “Cornerstone Caregiving takes any allegation involving client safety or financial integrity with the utmost seriousness. In addition to an internal review and terminating the caregiver, Cornerstone fully cooperated with the state’s audit, and the office was found to be in substantial compliance. Additionally, Cornerstone took all appropriate steps to ensure the client did not sustain any financial loss. We look forward to continuing to serve Duluth’s seniors with compassion and care.” 

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Report says Duluth home care worker charged thousands to client’s bank card 

Providers saved from the ‘brink’ as Legislature funds nursing home pay raises

by Zee Johnson

The Minnesota House voted yes on Monday to a bill that would increase nursing home workers’ wages and provide the funding to do so, a year after the nation’s only Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board proposed the same but without any financial backing.

The House agreed to pay raises for nursing home direct caregivers – funding included – unlike a May 2024 proposal that would have left providers on the hook for the increases. 

Those extra costs posed by the Workforce Standards Board would have created a “disastrous impact,” said Toby Pearson, president and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota. 

Now, the House’s budget doesn’t only stop the bleeding — it also builds a foundation, he said.

“We commend the House of Representatives for advancing a Human Services budget that puts our seniors and their caregivers first,” Pearson said in a statement to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News on Wednesday. “Unlike the Governor’s and Senate budget proposals, which threaten the stability of the state’s long-term care system, the House plan protects critical funding for skilled nursing facilities and ensures that rural nursing homes can remain open to serve their communities.”

Gov. Tim Walz’s (D) January budget proposal was called a “short-sighted slap in the face” by Ben Hansen, director of communications at LeadingAge Minnesota, that recommended cutting nearly $200 million from nursing home payments and capping reimbursement rates.

The 109-25 House vote would set the nursing home worker minimum wage to $19 per hour beginning Jan. 1 2026, but certified nursing assistants would earn a minimum of $22.50 per hour; trained medication aides would make least $24.50 per hour; and licensed practical nurses would be in line for a minimum of $27 an hour, according to the bill. 

On Jan. 1, 2027, all nursing home workers would see another $1.50 bump. 

The bill now has to be approved by Gov. Walz and the Senate. It’s estimated that the increases may cost between $9 million and $15 million, the Minnesota Reformer reported.

The pay increase could help the state move one step closer to building a sustainable long-term care system, Pearson said. 

He still sees problems with the board, however, with the lack of provider input when curating policies being the most glaring.

“The fundamental flaw with the Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board continues to be the voting process that allows rules to be created that do not require a provider member to vote in the affirmative for the rules to proceed,” he explained. “Without that voting requirement, it is not a meaningful dialog about improving the health and welfare of workers and how to pay for them, the Unions and the Administration simply pass whatever they want, without actually taking a closer look at the implications of the rules and requirements on the providers.” 

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Providers saved from the ‘brink’ as Legislature funds nursing home pay raises 

Investigators Say Harmony Woman Drained Father’s Account of $39,000

by Zech Sindt 

A Harmony woman is accused of draining her elderly father’s bank account of more than $39,000 while serving as his power of attorney.

Debra Ann Hebrink, 68, faces five felony counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and one felony count of theft by swindle in Fillmore County District Court. Her first appearance is scheduled for October 14.

The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office opened the case after receiving a report from the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center on January 7. The report alleged that Hebrink misused funds belonging to her father. Fillmore County Social Services joined the investigation.

Bank records showed that the man’s home was sold in June 2022 for $169,000 and the money was deposited into his account. He rented the home from the buyer until moving into Harmony Place assisted living in May 2024. After that move, investigators noted a pattern of withdrawals and purchases that did not match his past spending habits.

On January 21, 2025, investigators met with Hebrink at the county office building in Preston. She was advised that she was not under arrest and that she was free to leave at any time. Officials reminded her that as power of attorney, she was required to keep receipts showing how her father’s funds were used. She replied, “Well, nobody told me that I need to keep every little bitty receipt.”

Records show a series of purchases between April 2024 and January 2025 that investigators say were for Hebrink’s personal benefit or for other family members.

Restaurant spending totaled $2,213 at local establishments and national chains. When asked about the dining, Hebrink told investigators, “I had to eat.” During that same time, about $11,195 was withdrawn as cash, with deposits in similar amounts appearing in her personal account. She admitted the withdrawals were for her to live on, explaining that she was unable to work and relied only on Social Security. When asked if her father was aware of the cash being taken out, she said, “He doesn’t want to know any of that.”

Investigators also found payments for Hebrink’s car insurance and repairs, totaling more than $3,300. A $1,782 purchase at Slumberland was confirmed by Hebrink as a bed for her adult son. She also admitted to using $4,455 for her granddaughter’s orthodontic care.

Other spending included $3,671 at convenience stores and purchases at Walmart, Target, Scheel’s, and other retailers. Payments were also made to an online beauty store, a local community education program, and toward what appeared to be one of Hebrink’s loans. Two checks totaling $675 were written, which she said were to help her grandson.

On January 27, investigators and social services staff met with the victim at his assisted living apartment. He said he has short-term memory problems and did not know about the orthodontist payments, the bed, or the car expenses. When asked if he knew that his daughter was using his money to pay her rent, he said, “No, I didn’t know. I don’t know what she used or took off. Really, I don’t.”

By December 2024, the account was fully depleted. With no remaining funds, the man was forced to apply for assistance to cover rent at Harmony Place.

The complaint breaks down the losses in two stages. Between April and October 2024, Hebrink made unauthorized purchases totaling $28,134. From October 5, 2024, through January 2, 2025, she spent another $11,073. In total, she is accused of misusing $39,207 of her father’s money.

The most serious charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Other charges carry maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and $20,000 fines.

Court records show Hebrink’s first appearance is scheduled for October 14 at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Jeremy Clinefelter. 

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Investigators Say Harmony Woman Drained Father’s Account of $39,000 

Rochester Man Sentenced for Stealing Thousands of Dollars From Vulnerable Adult

By TJ Leverentz 

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester man has been sentenced for bullying a vulnerable adult into giving him thousands of dollars. 

21-year-old Bill Gum Benjamin was charged last fall with three felony counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. 

Under a plea agreement that was finalized in May, the criminal complaint was amended and he admitted to a felony theft charge.

Rochester Man Avoids Prison for Stealing Thousands of Dollars from Vulnerable Adult

The Olmsted County Sheriff's Office began investigating the case after receiving a report of a theft. A woman told investigators that Benjamin had been forcing her son, who the criminal complaint says is autistic, to give him money.

The victim's mother became involved after his phone was shut off for nonpayment and she examined her son's bank statements. She told investigators that she discovered his balance had dropped for more than $40,000 to nothing over the previous year, the charges say.

 

Benjamin complaint. Olmsted County Court

The complaint says the investigator spoke to the victim, who indicated he met Benjamin while working at a business in Southeast Rochester in 2023, and at some point, complied with the request from Benjamin for some money. 

The victim also stated that after a few more money requests, Benjamin began forcing the victim into his car and would physically push him around.

Benjamin would call the victim's bank to verify his account balance before driving the man to a bank branch in Southwest Rochester and forcing him to withdraw money, the charges say. 

The victim told law enforcement Benjamin would wait outside his workplace and follow him in his car almost every week on the day he was paid.

Benjamin complaint. Olmsted County Court

Benjamin was accused of taking more than $7700 from the victim in September 2023 and an additional $22,900 between October 2023 and the end of March last year.

It was also alleged that an additional $10,900 was taken by Benjamin between April and the end of September last year.

Benjamin was sentenced Monday to five years probation. He was also fined $500. 

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Rochester Man Sentenced for Stealing Thousands of Dollars From Vulnerable Adult 

Harmony Woman Charged with 18 Felonies for Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult

by Zech Sindt 

A Harmony woman is facing 18 felony charges for allegedly misappropriating more than $100,000 from her elderly mother over a 16-month span, in what authorities are calling a significant case of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.

Kisa Lyn O’Connor, 45, of Harmony, has been charged in Fillmore County District Court with 18 counts of felony financial exploitation. The charges allege that from November 2023 through February 2025, O’Connor systematically diverted her mother’s financial assets for her personal use, despite being entrusted with fiduciary responsibilities.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim, identified as a vulnerable adult due to a diagnosis of dementia and a progressive cognitive disorder, moved into O’Connor’s residence in December 2023 after living independently in Pine Island. Around the time of the move, the victim’s home was sold for approximately $178,000 and her Pershing brokerage account was liquidated for $38,628.37. These proceeds were deposited into her Wells Fargo account, which was jointly held by O’Connor and the victim’s other daughter.

In the months that followed, a series of large withdrawals and questionable transactions raised red flags. On November 4, 2023, O’Connor allegedly wrote herself a check for $17,000, and a second $17,000 check was issued to the victim’s other daughter on the same day. In January 2024, an additional $22,000 was withdrawn, followed by a $75,000 withdrawal in March. A further $18,000 was removed in June.

The Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) began receiving reports in early 2024 concerning the welfare of the victim and O’Connor’s control over her financial accounts. The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation led by Captain Dan Dornink. The investigation revealed that O’Connor was transferring large sums into her own personal bank accounts, withdrawing cash, and making retail purchases, often without clear documentation or explanation.

Bank records and family testimony indicated that O’Connor was storing thousands of dollars in cash in a safe at her residence and used frequent deposits to supplement her income. Investigators also learned that O’Connor had removed her sister as co-power of attorney and sole executor of the will, assuming full control over the victim’s financial affairs.

The complaint says medical evaluations from Mayo Clinic in August and October 2023, and again in February 2024, confirmed the victim was suffering from cognitive impairment consistent with Alzheimer’s disease. Physicians concluded she lacked the capacity to make financial decisions or understand complex transactions during the timeframe in question.

O’Connor told investigators that she and her sister had reached an agreement to compensate her $2,000 per month for caring for their mother, retroactive to November 2023. She claimed a lump sum of $14,000 was withdrawn for seven months of caregiving, along with $4,000 for transportation and medical-related mileage. A handwritten agreement signed by both daughters and the victim was provided, dated July 9, 2024. However, law enforcement determined that significant withdrawals had occurred prior to this agreement and far exceeded what could be justified by the documented arrangement.

From October 2024 through February 2025 alone, investigators documented over $45,000 in additional withdrawals from the victim’s accounts. These included ATM withdrawals, transfers to O’Connor’s personal account, and large cash extractions. In one instance, O’Connor withdrew $24,000 from the victim’s F&M Community Bank account, but returned the funds only after being contacted by law enforcement.

The complaint further alleges that O’Connor used the victim’s funds for over $2,900 in Walmart purchases and more than $2,300 in Amazon purchases. These transactions were not authorized by the victim, and investigators concluded they were for the benefit of O’Connor or third parties.

Captain Dornink and Fillmore County Adult Protection social worker Stephanie Hoffman met with O’Connor on multiple occasions during the investigation. O’Connor maintained that the financial arrangements were agreed upon by the family. However, investigators noted that her explanations often changed, and no formal accounting of expenses was ever produced.

Each of the 18 felony charges is classified under Minnesota Statute 609.2335, relating to the financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The most serious charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine, while lesser charges carry penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a $20,000 fine. The complaint states that the total value of misappropriated funds far exceeds the statutory felony thresholds of $5,000 and $35,000.

A summons has been issued for O’Connor to appear via Zoom in Fillmore County District Court on July 1.

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Harmony Woman Charged with 18 Felonies for Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult 

Former Cloquet police officer found guilty of taking advantage of elderly person

by Matt McConico

SAINT PAUL & CLOQUET, Minn. – Former Cloquet Police Officer Laci Marie Silgjord was found guilty of one count of felony attempted theft by swindle.

Silgjord exploited a now-deceased 78-year-old vulnerable adult.

She gained access to victim’s bank accounts and attempted to inherit the estate worth more than $150.000, despite Ms. Armey having surviving family.

Silgjord was financially exploiting Joan Arney, at the time a 78-year-old with dementia, Silgjord met through her employment as a then-Cloquet police officer.

The state said four months after meeting the victim, Silgjord represented herself to a bank as her fiduciary, despite having no legal authority for this role, and gained access to the victim’s bank accounts.

Silgjord will be sentenced at a date to be determined.

The Carlton County Attorney referred the case to the Attorney General’s Office and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. It was tried jointly by Medicaid Fraud and Criminal Division.

Timeline of the accusations against Silgjord from the Attorney General’s Office:

As outlined in the  criminal complaint and as proven at trial, Silgjord first met the victim in May 2020 when Silgjord responded to the victim’s residence for a call regarding a stolen purse. By January 2021, Silgjord had attempted to obtain the victim’s entire remaining estate despite the victim having surviving family and no written estate plan awarding anything to Silgjord. This was despite a Cloquet Police Department policy that in order to “avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest members of this department shall refrain from developing or maintaining personal or financial relationships with victims, witnesses or other individuals during the course of, or as a direct result of, any official contact.” 

Then-Officer Silgjord first encountered the victim on May 5, 2020, when she responded to a call about a stolen purse.  On June 2, 2020, Silgjord performed a welfare check at the victim’s house upon the request of the victim’s half-brother. Silgjord and other officers conducted a second welfare check on August 25, 2020, when they found the victim in very poor condition, including that she had suffered a stroke and had deficits in memory and attention. The victim was immediately transported to the hospital.  

On September 4, 2020, the hospital petitioned for guardianship for the victim due to “severe memory and orientation deficits which make her unable to make higher level decisions about her medical care.” At a court hearing on the guardianship, Silgjord stated that a social worker at the hospital asked Silgjord to be the victim’s guardian. The Court appointed Silgjord as guardian on September 11, 2020, which allowed her to perform duties related to personal care and custody. Silgjord was never appointed as a conservator to make financial decisions for the victim or manage the victim’s money, however. 

Throughout September 2020, Silgjord recorded multiple bedside conversations with the victim.  During one conversation, the victim said she did not know where she was, did not know her maiden name, did not know her father’s name, and did not remember how old her son was when he died.  Silgjord also showed the victim a photograph of herself when she was younger; the victim did not recognize herself. During this conversation, Silgjord told the victim that she was her “new grandma” and that she loved the victim.  The victim responded that she loved Silgjord and that she wanted to take care of her. 

In late September 2020, Silgjord presented guardianship paperwork to the victim’s bank. She documented on a form titled “Fiduciary Accounts Application & Agreement” that she was the victim’s fiduciary and that she had the authority to access the victim’s accounts.   

Medical records in October 2020 documented the victim’s continued regression, and at times noted she was hallucinating. On October 28, 2020, the victim passed away with no surviving children and no will. Silgjord did not notify the victim’s estranged husband and next of kin about the victim’s death.   

Shortly after the victim’s death, Silgjord met the victim’s estranged husband at a restaurant. The Court’s order appointing Silgjord as guardian indicated that her guardianship expired upon the victim’s death — yet Silgjord claimed to the victim’s estranged husband that she was “in charge” of ensuring the victim’s wishes were carried out. Silgjord also refused to give the estranged husband the keys to the victim’s house. When the estranged husband asked Silgjord about submitting paperwork to access the victim’s bank accounts, Silgjord responded that he could “probably not” do this “because I am on the account.”   

On November 24, 2020, the victim’s estranged husband went to the victim’s house, where he encountered Silgjord. Silgjord falsely claimed she had a guardianship and conservatorship over the victim, refused to provide him the keys, and said that she would not do so “until the courts make me sign it over.” 

On December 18, 2020, Silgjord filed a petition seeking to be appointed personal representative of the victim’s estate. Silgjord claimed the estate was indebted to her for guardianship expenses. Some of compensation sought by Silgjord included time she supposedly spent on the guardianship while Silgjord was on duty as a police officer. 

On January 28, 2021, Silgjord filed a claim against the victim’s estate for $71,601.58, which she estimated to be the estate’s total value. In describing her claim, Silgjord wrote “Prior to Joan’s death she told me she loved me & wanted to take care of me & my family. I was Joan’s friend & court appointed guardian.”   

On March 9, 2021, Silgjord filed a second claim seeking an additional $86,611.70 from the estate, which represented the total of the inheritance the victim was set to receive from her stepmother’s estate. In describing this claim, Silgjord wrote, “I was Joan’s court appointed guardian & took care of her prior to her death. There is no formal will but Joan told me & my husband she loved us and wanted to take care of us. I have this recorded on my cell phone.”   

The Court denied Silgjord’s claims against the victim’s estate. Silgjord’s employment as a Cloquet police officer ended in June 2022. 

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Former Cloquet police officer found guilty of taking advantage of elderly person