2 Arrested For Allegedly Exploiting Blind, Elderly Woman With Dementia

A caretaker and her partner have been arrested in Miami-Dade for allegedly financially exploiting a blind, elderly woman with dementia, prosecutors said.

Evelyn Dinora Lopez De Ramirez De Hernandez and Yuri Hernandez, both 45, allegedly gained access to the victim’s finances and stole about $130,000 from her, according to the office of State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

“This poor woman needed care and assistance, which is why she hired De Ramirez De Hernandez,” Fernandez Rundle said. “But what she allegedly received was an apathetic concern about her daily physical needs and a greedy hand rummaging through the finances intended to provide for her care. These issues are what make crimes against our disabled and our elder residents so troubling.”

Ramirez De Hernandez is charged with one count of exploitation of elderly/disabled over $100,000, one count of theft from elderly over $50,000 and one count of organized fraud over $50,000. 

Hernandez is charged with one count of theft from elderly over $50,000, one count of organized fraud over $50,000 and one count of conspiracy to commit organized fraud over $50,000.

L-R: Evelyn Dinora Lopez De Ramirez De Hernandez and Yuri Hernandez

The arrests occurred after relatives of the victim in North Carolina received a call from the victim’s investment advisor, notifying them of an odd telephone call he received from the victim asking to withdraw $40,000.

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2 Arrested For Allegedly Exploiting Blind, Elderly Woman With Dementia

Court appointed accountant charged with theft, exploitation

By: Darcy Spears

 

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Accused of stealing from a disabled client because he knew nobody would notice… problem is: someone eventually did. Now the troubled guardianship program 13 Action News has exposed over and over again has a new problem: The arrest of a court-appointed accountant.

Certified Public Accountant Joshua Gottesman is facing nearly 50 criminal charges--all them felonies---including theft and exploitation of a vulnerable person. All of it happened under the not-so-watchful eye of Clark County Family Court.

This all stems from the guardianship case of Garrett Dosch. Garrett and his family received nearly $7 million from a medical malpractice lawsuit due to life-altering injuries he and his twin brother suffered when they were born.

According to the arrest report, Gottesman was appointed by Clark County Family Court in 2005 to manage Garrett's trust account.

But the report states by March, 2017, Gottesman stole more than $190,000 of the disabled man's money.

He has since repaid most of the money, but Gottesman admitted to investigators he took it simply because he could. He said he knew no one was watching and he could get away with it, according to the arrest report.

Authorities say when Gottesman's personal accounts were drained or overdrawn, he took money from Garrett's trust and spent it on things like "dating websites and video games, pet spa care, traveling and eating out."

Court records show Gottesman was only caught because the Guardianship Compliance Officer found he failed to file required accountings for 12 years. The position of the Compliance Officer was created after my years-long investigation uncovered massive corruption and heartbreaking exploitation in Clark County's guardianship system.

Gottesman declined our request for an on-camera interview. His next court date is in May.

Clark County District Court provided the following statement after we asked if the court would hold any of its employees accountable for the problems we've exposed in the guardianship system including the recent charges file against Gottesman:

Judicial officers followed the law when handling guardianship cases. Since issues with the guardianship system came to light, significant statutory changes were passed in the Legislature. A 50 page bill of guardianship changes was passed last year. Additional changes to the guardianship laws are currently being considered by the legislature. The court has also added resources to guardianship cases to ensure the well-being of protected persons. Guardianship cases are now heard exclusively by district court judges, rather than hearing masters. Two district court judges have been assigned to guardianship cases on a full-time basis. Investigators and compliance officers have been hired to follow up and investigate information presented in guardianship cases. Our case management technology has been improved to automate functions and facilitate effective tracking. Counsel is now appointed for each adult protected person. The District Court is working hard to improve the system to protect the most vulnerable in our community.

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Court appointed accountant charged with theft, exploitation

Home health care worker charged with exploitation of adult

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A home health care provider is off the job after she was charged with exploitation of an adult, forgery, theft, identity theft and a computer offense.

According to court documents, Christine Bethann Maples of Tazewell City used an 87-year-old woman's bank card to pamper herself.

The victim reportedly suffered a stroke and had difficulty completing daily activities. Maples was brought in to assist the victim in daily activities during the month of February.

The Knoxville Police Department was alerted of financial exploitation when the victim's son contacted them.

Court documents revealed Maples used the woman's card approximately 15 different times. She allegedly made purchases at Victoria's Secret, Pilot, Nail Design, Hobby Lobby and other Knoxville stores.

Local 8 News reached out to the detective working this case. He said there are at least four people who have been victimized by Maples.

Local 8 News Reporter Dave Detling tracked another victim down. She claimed Maples stole two envelopes from her purse containing $2,000.

At the time, Maples was working as a home health care provider through Home Instead Senior Care.

In a statement, businesses owner Amy Hull said:

"Prior to placing a caregiver in a client’s home, we conduct rigorous third-party background checks, as well as personal and professional reference checks. These were all completed in this instance, and we did not find any history of inappropriate behavior. Upon learning of these allegations, the employee was suspended immediately and has since been fired. We have cooperated fully with the authorities and will to continue to do so throughout this investigation.”

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Home health care worker charged with exploitation of adult

Administrator of senior living facility arrested for financial exploitation

An administrator at an assisted senior living facility in South Florida is accused of financial exploitation.

Investigators said the victim, who is now deceased, was a disabled man who once lived at the facility. They said the elderly man was being exploited for a year after he was transported from Anguilla Cay Senior Living to a nursing home.

“It's the best facility I've ever lived in,” Charles Duckett said.

Duckett has spent the last year and three months living in Anguilla Cay Senior Living facility in Lantana.

“They put in a new elevator so we don't have to walk up and down the stairs,” Duckett said.

An arrest report shows an administrator is accused of grand theft and taking advantage of a former resident. The revelation was brought to light after someone filed a complaint last September.

Investigators with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit with the Florida Office of Attorney General say between June 2015 to July 2016, Craig Allen Fischer illicitly received funds belonging to the victim, via electronic bank funds transfer, in the amount of $35,210.

According to the arrest report, the transactions took place while the victim, who suffered from dementia and Parkinson's, was living in another facility.

The report also states Fischer had a duty to discharge the victim but instead continued to receive funds.

A visit to Fischer’s home and his business ended without success.

As for Duckett, he said he continues to trust the people, including Fischer.

“I don't think he would do anything illegal intentionally. I know him as a man of honor,” Duckett said.

A representative with the agency for healthcare administration, which regulates assisted living facilities, said Florida law does not allow her to release information about this investigation at this time.

But I found out the agency fined Anguilla Cay $500 on January 25, 2017. The representative would not say if the two are connected.

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Administrator of senior living facility arrested for financial exploitation

Woman charged with exploitation of elder

A Floyd County woman was in jail Thursday without bond after being accused of taking financial resources from an elderly Rome resident.

According to Floyd County Jail reports:

Sheryl Lynn Norris, 38, of 1536 Watkins Gin Road, Silver Creek, used the victim’s financial resources to pay off her own water bill and make a number of other purchases without the permission of the victim.

She was charged with felony exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults, elder persons and residents.

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Woman charged with exploitation of elder

Nursing home worker charged with exploitation

Pinellas Park, Florida – A worker at a nursing home has been charged with exploiting one of her elderly patients.

Suleyka  Santos-Nieves, 27, of Pinellas Park, was arrested on New Year’s Eve for allegedly using a patient’s credit and bank card for personal transactions totaling $210 at two stores in November and December.

Nieves, employed at the Gulf Shore Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility, was released from jail on $5,000 bond.

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Nursing home worker charged with exploitation