Orange Park man accused of exploiting his mother for over $10,000

Richard Edwin Johnson

ORANGE PARK, Fla. - Clay County detectives said a man stole $10,845 from his elderly mother’s bank account. 

Richard Edwin Johnson, 42, of Orange Park, was arrested Monday and charged with elderly exploitation totally more than $10,000 and passing forged checks. 

According to the arrest affidavit, Johnson altered or forged 36 checks belonging to his elderly and disabled mother whom he provided daily care for. 

The victim told a detective her son and caregiver had taken 36 checks from her, filled them out and cashed them without her consent or knowledge. Investigators noted in their report that on 36 occasions between October of last year and February of this year, checks belonging to Johnson’s mother were being illegally cashed at ACE Check Cashing on Blanding Blvd. and another financial institution that was redacted from the report.  

The manager at ACE Check Cashing manager on Blanding Blvd. told detectives that she remembers Johnson coming in several times to cash checks belonging to his mother. An employee at the other financial institution told detectives she was familiar with the incident and confirmed all 36 checks were cashed in Clay County.

According to investigators, $10,845 was taken from the woman and now she’s unable to pay her home insurance. As a result of not being able to pay, her policy was canceled.

Johnson remains in the Clay County Jail without bond. 

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Orange Park man accused of exploiting his mother for over $10,000

Fulton man accused of forging checks, exploiting elderly

FULTON, Mo. - A Fulton man was charged on Monday, accused of taking advantage of an elderly person with disabilities.

According to an officer in a probably cause statement, the investigation began in December 2014 when a Fulton Nursing and Rehab Center resident and staff reported that several of the resident's checks had been either stolen or forged.

Bank statements showed that 15 checks had been stolen or forged between May and November 2014.

The checks were written to Bill Howser and totaled $5,885.

The officer said Howser was interviewed and "advised that he had used (the resident's) checkbook to buy food, beer, cigarettes and cloth(es) for (the resident)."

When asked why he wrote the checks to himself, Howser allegedly told the officer the checks were written to him.

The officer then contacted the facility, where the administrator said the resident had not received any new clothes and her clothes were worn out.

Howser is now charged with financial exploitation of an elderly/disabled person.

A warrant was issued on Monday for Howser's arrest.

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Fulton man accused of forging checks, exploiting elderly