Delco women charged in financial exploitation of Montgomery Township nursing home resident, police say

Investigators said the victim, 79, was persuaded to hand over his debit card, which was then allegedly used for unauthorized withdrawals by Myria Sharon Freeman and Jennifer Lynn Patterson, of Chester 

by Fideri News Network Staff

Police news.

Investigators said the victim, 79, was persuaded to hand over his debit card, which was then allegedly used for unauthorized withdrawals by Myria Sharon Freeman and Jennifer Lynn Patterson, of Chester

A Delaware County woman is facing multiple felony charges after police said she conspired with a nurse’s aide to steal money from a 79-year-old resident of a Montgomery Township nursing home late last year.

Myria Sharon Freeman, 23, of the 1100 block of Highland Avenue in Chester, was charged by Montgomery Township Police with felony counts of forgery, conspiracy to commit forgery, identity theft, and conspiracy to commit identity theft, two counts of misdemeanor access device fraud, and misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, theft, conspiracy to commit theft, and financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, according to charging documents.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, the victim told investigators that on Nov. 29, 2024, Jennifer Lynn Patterson, 38, of the 1400 block of Congress Street, Chester, a nurse’s aide at the Montgomeryville Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, approached him in his room asking for money. Patterson claimed she had three children and needed $100 to get her cellphone reactivated, police said.

The victim, who said he normally never lends out his bank cards, agreed to help Patterson and gave her his Citizens Bank debit card and PIN, instructing her to withdraw $100 and return the card, according to the affidavit.

Patterson allegedly made the $100 withdrawal but never returned with the card, police said. The victim later contacted Citizens Bank and learned that in addition to the agreed-upon withdrawal, two more transactions — one for $400 and another for $100 — had been made without his permission, police said.

Detectives said surveillance video confirmed Patterson completed the first withdrawal at a Wawa store in Middletown Township, Delaware County. The subsequent transactions, investigators said, were carried out by Freeman at Wawa in Radnor Township, using the victim’s debit card.

Video allegedly showed Freeman driving up in her red Volkswagen Jetta and conducting the ATM withdrawals while looking at her phone.

Police said the total loss from the unauthorized transactions was $500 beyond what the victim had consented to. Citizens Bank canceled the card and opened a fraud investigation.

Patterson, who allegedly initiated the scheme, is listed as a co-defendant in the case. A summons was issued to Freeman on Sept. 3, according to court records. No bail or arraignment information is available.

A preliminary hearing for Freeman is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy in Montgomery County on Dec. 2.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records. 

Full Article & Source:
Delco women charged in financial exploitation of Montgomery Township nursing home resident, police say 

Missouri couple charged with financial exploitation of elderly veteran, accused of selling home

 A Missouri couple has been charged with financial exploitation of an elderly veteran, accused of withdrawing funds and selling his home without his knowledge, according to court documents.

Source:
Missouri couple charged with financial exploitation of elderly veteran, accused of selling home

Rochester woman accused of transferring $75K to herself from dying senior’s accounts

By KAALTV

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester woman appeared in Olmsted County Court Tuesday on two felony charges of financial exploitation.

Tracy Anne Volk, 60, is accused of using her position as Power of Attorney for a dying senior to transfer about $75,000 to accounts she controlled.

According to court documents, three individuals related to the senior made a Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment report after allegedly seeing “suspicious banking transactions” show up in the senior’s account while she stayed in hospice.

The witnesses told police they had seen transfers from accounts with their names and that of the senior into accounts controlled by the senior and Volk — ostensibly to be used for bills after the senior passed away.

However, Volk had refused to pay the senior’s outstanding medical and hospice bills — about $10,000 in total — as of February of 2024, according to court documents.

Rochester police reviewed the senior’s documents and noted that the senior specifically stated “I … do not authorize any of my attorneys in fact to make gifts to themselves.”

However, police found that in June of 2023, someone transferred $55,000, then $20,000 into the account shared by Volk and the senior.

“Volk later used Victim’s death certificate to remove Victim’s name from the account,” court documents read.

Volk is scheduled to appear for an omnibus hearing Oct. 1.

Full Article & Source:
Rochester woman accused of transferring $75K to herself from dying senior’s accounts

Collinsville Man Charged In Elderly Financial Exploitation Case

by Dalton Brown

COLLINSVILLE - A Collinsville man faces multiple felonies after allegedly deceiving a disabled elderly victim out of more than $15,000 over the course of 19 months.

David E. Alred, 50, of Collinsville, was charged with two counts of financial exploitation of an elderly person with a disability, both Class 1 felonies. He was additionally charged with theft of property over $5,000 by deception from an elderly person, a Class 2 felony.

From approximately Sept. 15, 2022 to April 16, 2024, Aldred reportedly obtained by deception over $15,000 from an elderly victim 70 years of age or older.

Madison County court documents filed on June 28, 2024 add that Alred stood in a “position of trust and confidence” with the victim as he carried out “a series of acts” to illegally obtain the money for more than a year and a half.

The Collinsville Police Department presented the case against Alred, who was ordered to be remanded to jail until his initial appearance in court.

The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  

Full Article & Source:
Collinsville Man Charged In Elderly Financial Exploitation Case

Madera man accused of stealing $12K from 90-year-old woman

By Jeff Corcino

Robert Ray Zendek, 31, of Madera has been arrested for allegedly stealing $12,013 from a 90-year-old relative.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on April 14, the victim, a Bigler Township resident, came to the Clearfield state police barracks and reported more than $10,000 was taken from her account.

State police obtained her bank records and found that Zendek made several unauthorized purchases totaling $12,013 using CashApp.

Police interviewed Zendek and he admitted to making the unauthorized withdrawals and said they occurred over seven months or so.

Zendek is charged with financial exploitation of an older adult or care dependent person, theft by unlawful taking, access device issued to another who did not authorize use another reason access device is unauthorized by issuer —all four are felonies of the third degree.

Zendek is incarcerated in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $50,000 monetary bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Michael Morris.

Full Article & Source:
Madera man accused of stealing $12K from 90-year-old woman

Montgomery attorney to pay $345,000 to his victim of financial exploitation

by: Mubashir Zaidi

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL) — A Montgomery attorney, sentenced on the charge of financial exploitation, agreed to pay $345,000 to his victim, an elderly military veteran.

According to Alabama’s Attorney General’s Office, John Warren Godwin, 39, pleaded guilty and was sentenced by the Montgomery County Circuit Court to a ten-year suspended sentence with five years’ probation.

Earlier on May 1, agents with the Attorney General’s Office arrested Godwin, 

The Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation into Godwin’s conduct in June 2022 after receiving information from a local bank that identified suspicious transactions from the victim’s accounts.

That investigation revealed that Godwin was court-appointed in 2018 to represent D.N., an elderly veteran in need of emergency protective services who had no family to care for him.

Godwin admitted that he breached his fiduciary duty to D.N. by failing to pay property taxes on his home, which led to the property being sold to a third party at a tax sale.

Godwin further breached his duty by recklessly failing to redeem that property within the statutory period of three years. Because of his failure to reclaim the property, D.N.’s home was permanently lost.

As a condition of Godwin’s plea, he agreed to pay $345,000 in restitution to the victim (the value of the home lost in the tax sale), to permanently surrender his license with the Alabama State Bar, to disclaim any and all bequests, interests, inheritances, and duties from any and all last wills and testaments of the victim, and to pay all other court costs and fees.

In exchange for Godwin’s immediate cooperation, the State agreed to not bring any additional charges related to Godwin’s service as a guardian and conservator.

Full Article & Source:
Montgomery attorney to pay $345,000 to his victim of financial exploitation

Chatfield pair charged for taking about $100k from vulnerable adult

Bruce Lyn Amundson, 68, and Deborah Lane Amundson, 66, are both facing six charges of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and a summons has been issued for them to appear before District Judge Pamela King July 7. No attorney is listed for the pair.

 

By Mark Wasson

CHATFIELD — A Chatfield man and woman have been charged in Olmsted County District Court with stealing about $100,000 dollars from a vulnerable adult under their care, according to court records.

Bruce Lyn Amundson, 68, and Deborah Lane Amundson, 66, are both facing six charges of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and a summons has been issued for them to appear before District Judge Pamela King on July 7. No attorney is listed for the pair.

According to the criminal complaint:

The Amundson’s transferred $98,191.15 between January 2018 and December 2020 from a person that Bruce Amundson had a power of attorney over.

Law enforcement found bank slips from a Rochester bank where the deposits and withdrawals happened.

The pair told law enforcement the transfers were approved by the victim in exchange for the pair caring for the vulnerable adult. They were not able to furnish a contract authorizing the transactions.

The pair told law enforcement they put the vulnerable adult into a nursing home facility in April 2018.

The investigation was initially started after an Olmsted County adult protection social worker submitted a report to law enforcement about potential abuse. At the time the report was submitted, the victim had an outstanding bill of around $28,578 at the Rochester care facility.

Full Article & Source:

Chatfield pair charged for taking about $100k from vulnerable adult

Woman charged with financial exploitation

Brown County Courthouse

NEW ULM — A woman is accused of stealing nearly $37,000 from a vulnerable New Ulm resident.

Ann Margaret O’Callaghan, 57, of St. Paul, was charged with felony counts of theft and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult Thursday in Brown County District Court.

O’Callaghan took $36,800 from a woman’s retirement account without authorization last year while she had power of attorney, the charges say.

Another person who shared power of attorney told authorities there was not enough money left in the account to pay for the woman’s nursing home care.

Full Article & Source: 
Woman charged with financial exploitation

19-284 Economic Crimes Detectives Arrest Professional Guardian for Exploitation Of An Elderly Person While Acting As A Power Of Attorney

 

Economic Crimes Arrest

Who:
 
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
-Economic Crimes Unit

Traci Hudson (Samuel) (Arrested)
Business: Owner of Florida Guardianship Services, Inc.
DOB: 03/19/1968
Address: 10834 Charmwood Drive in Riverview Florida
Charges: Exploitation of an Elderly Person over $50,000

What:
 
Detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit have arrested 51-year-old Traci Hudson, after a complex investigation which determined Hudson was exploiting an elderly person by transferring large sums of money to her accounts for personal gain.

When:
 
The investigation began in November, 2018.
The suspect was arrested at approximately 2:29 p.m., on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

Where:
 
The investigation was conducted in Pinellas County.

Why/How:
 
Detectives assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit have arrested 51-year-old Traci Hudson, after a complex investigation which determined Hudson was exploiting an elderly person by transferring large sums of money to her accounts for personal gain.

According to detectives, their investigation began in November, 2018 after the Florida Department of Children and Families, Adult Protection Division (APID) forwarded a tip to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

In November of 2017, Traci Hudson was introduced to the victim, 92-year-old Maurice Myers after the death of his daughter, who had been taking care of Myers’ finances. The introduction was made by people who knew Hudson was a professional guardian and she worked with court appointed wards.

Hudson is self-employed as the business owner of Florida Guardianship Services, Inc. She is listed also as the President of the Guardian Association of Pinellas County per the Florida Department of Corporations website. In addition, Hudson is listed on the Guardian Association of Pinellas County newsletter as Board of Directors, President as recent as October of 2019.

Detectives say after the introduction, Hudson through her Power of Attorney also became the court appointed personal representative for Myers’ daughter’s estate.

Myers passed away in October of 2018 with no next of kin.

Although Hudson worked as a professional guardian since 2016, she was not a court appointed guardian for Myers. Therefore, none of her financial transfers and expenses were monitored by the courts.

Detectives found over the course of eleven months, a total of $541,541.12 was transferred from Myers account to accounts owned by Hudson.

Detectives presented the case to the Pinellas/Pasco State Attorney’s Office and a warrant was issued for Hudson on one count of Exploitation of an Elderly Person over $50,000, a first degree felony.

On November 14, 2019, at approximately 2:29 p.m., Traci Hudson was taken into custody by deputies, on a warrant issued by the State’s Attorney’s Office with a bond amount of $250,000. Hudson was transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident

The investigation continues.

Full Article & Source: 
19-284 Economic Crimes Detectives Arrest Professional Guardian for Exploitation Of An Elderly Person While Acting As A Power Of Attorney

Woman indicted for financial exploitation of elderly

A woman was indicted Monday for two counts of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to 13th Judicial District Attorney Bryant Dunaway.

Cynthia Renae Carr, a former house manager for a home care giving agency, allegedly financially exploited some of the residents, according to a press release from Dunaway's office.

"Carr was allegedly stealing money from elderly and vulnerable adult residents of the group home facility," the press release states.

Carr was arrested Tuesday at Citizens Bank in Jackson County, according to the Putnam County Jail Roster.

Carr's indictment and arrest follows a January report of possibly financial exploitation that was reviewed by the Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Team or VAPIT.

"Today, June 4, 2019, Investigator Randal Slayton with the District Attorney's Office and Detective Josh Reams and Detective Gabe Frizzell with the Putnam County Sheriff's Department arrested Cynthia Renae Carr where she was booked into the Putnam County Jail," the press release states.

"The exploitation of elderly and vulnerable adults is a growing problem that this office takes very seriously," Dunaway's press release states. "We would like to remind the public that the law makes it mandatory to report allegations of elder abuse."

Full Article & Source:
Woman indicted for financial exploitation of elderly

Jean and Victor Nennig charged with financial exploitation

Victor Alfred Nennig, 49, Wadena, and Jean Laree Nennig, 62, Little Falls, are facing felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult charges in Morrison County District Court.

The charges stem from an incident in June 2018, when a relative of an individual at a nursing home in Little Falls became their emergency guardian and conservator because the individual was about to be evicted.

This triggered an investigation into the handling of the victim’s finances, which were allegedly handled by the Nennigs since 2017.

The two allegedly lived at the victim’s home rent free after he was placed in the nursing home in December 2017, and allowed others to stay there.

The victim’s name was not removed from the utilities for the home, the criminal complaint said.
The Nennigs also allegedly failed to sign the victim up for medical assistance to help maintain the victim’s care at the nursing home, the criminal complaint said.

Social Services allegedly found $30,000 in transactions from the victim’s account that did not benefit him.

These allegedly included the purchase of ATV parts, computer games and mobile phones, the criminal complaint said.

During an interview with police and Social Services, Victor and Jean allegedly admitted they had made numerous purchases with the victim’s money.

The two allegedly became agitated at the allegations and left the interview
If convicted, both Victor and Jean could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

Full Article & Source: 
Jean and Victor Nennig charged with financial exploitation

Lyle man pleads not guilty to financial exploitation; victim owes health care facility over $60,000

Robert Jay Martinsen, 59, of Lyle was charged on Thursday in Mower County District Court with felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult-fail to provide care, felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult-use/manage/take property for benefit of someone else, and felony financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult-deprive property or resources for benefit of someone else.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

According to the court complaint, an agent of Mower County Human Services (MCHS) began an investigation in May regarding exploitation of a vulnerable adult, an elderly woman who had been admitted to a health care facility in 2016.

She learned the victim’s financial assets had been transferred from her joint accounts to accounts held solely by Martinsen, a relative who has Power of Attorney.

She also learned the victim’s nursing home bill had not been paid in several months.

Further investigation showed the victim’s late husband had reported $237,935.19 in assets on a Medical Assistance application in 2012, the complaint states. However, a Medical Assistance application Martinsen filled out for the victim in May said the victim had no assets or bank account and had not disposed of any items or income in the past 60 months.

Records indicated that Martinsen had transferred funds from the victim’s two credit union accounts into an account with only his name on it in October and November 2016, and that the victim’s savings and checking accounts had been transferred to an account with Martinsen’s name on it in February 2017. She also found the victim had stopped receiving social security checks in February 2017 and pension checks in April 2017.

The complaint further states that records indicated $373,091.38 had been deposited in the victim’s account since October 2012 and that she had paid $109,050.54 to the health care facility since her admission. In addition, the victim paid $1,058 in Medicare premiums between March 2017 and February 2018.

The victim had an outstanding bill of $60,776.26 from the health care center, and the MCHS agent determined the victim should have $262,982.84 in available assets.

The agent tried to meet with Martinsen, but he was uncooperative with the investigation, the complaint states.

Full Article & Source:
Lyle man pleads not guilty to financial exploitation; victim owes health care facility over $60,000

Pella woman allegedly steals $113K from Newton victim in dependent abuse case

A Pella woman has been charged with financial exploitation and dependent adult abuse of a Newton resident, after a federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network tip notified local police of more than $113,799 in potentially misappropriated money.

According to the Newton Police Department, 36-year-old Christan D. Maddison allegedly used the funds to purchase $15,500 in plastic surgery, as well as pay her own utility bills, tattoos, rent, car and credit card payments and fast food after she became the elderly victim’s power of attorney in February of 2017. Authorities were first alerted to the abuse reports in April.

Investigators claim the abuse happened while the victim was in a nursing home and unable to manage her own financial accounts. A reported $194,533 in annuities, investments and social security payments over the 14 months Maddison was POA for the victim were deposited into an account managed by Maddison. Police said $80,756 did go to the victim’s care during that time period, leaving the $113,779 in missing money.

Maddison was charged July 1, and released pending her scheduled court appearance at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 14.

Full Article & Source:
Pella woman allegedly steals $113K from Newton victim in dependent abuse case

Three charged with financial exploitation, theft of more than $60,000

Johnnie Shane Munsey

An Andersonville man and two Andersonville women have been charged with financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable person and theft of more than $60,000, according to Anderson County court records.

The three are Johnnie Shane Munsey, 46; Phyllis Joan Spradling, 71; and Tammie Jo Munsey, 42. They were indicted by the Anderson County Grand Jury in Clinton on July 10. The two exploitation and theft charges are both Class B felonies.

The three defendants, who all live at the same address in Andersonville, are accused of financially exploiting an elderly or vulnerable adult between December 30, 2015, through November 1, 2017, the court records said.

And they are accused of obtaining property, including but not limited to U.S. currency valued at more than $60,000, from the victim, Jimmy Spradling, without his consent, the indictments said.

Phyllis Joan Spradling

The three defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in Anderson County Criminal Court in Clinton on July 30.

Leslie Miller of the Clinton Police Department is listed as a witness for the state, according to the grand jury indictments. Also summoned for the state was First Tennessee Bank.

The indictments don’t say where the alleged theft and exploitation took place.

All three of the defendants were arrested Monday, July 16, and released from the Anderson County Detention Facility in Clinton within a day or two. Bond for each has been set at $75,000.


Full Article & Source:
Three charged with financial exploitation, theft of more than $60,000

Corsica man accused of elder abuse exploitation

(KSFY) - A Douglas County man has been arrested on several counts connected to financial abuse of an elder.

Forty-eight-year-old David Stetson of Corsica was arrested on three counts of felony exploitation, according to Attorney General Marty Jackley.

Officials say the theft charge alleges that Stetson took funds from an elderly family member.

Full Article & Source:
Corsica man accused of elder abuse exploitation

Prairie Ridge High School teacher pleads not guilty to financial exploitation charges

Rick Lima

CRYSTAL LAKE – A Prairie Ridge High School teacher on Friday pleaded not guilty to stealing more than $50,000 of an elderly woman’s money to purchase a home.

Physical education teacher and varsity girls basketball coach Rick Lima faces felony financial exploitation charges stemming from purchases he’s accused of making in July.

Crystal Lake police have said they believe the money was used to buy a home.

Lima is one of eight teachers whose position with Community High School District 155 will be cut at the end of the academic year. District officials on Tuesday unanimously approved the layoffs.

Employees who are laid off are selected based on statutory guidelines and student choice, depending on the courses they register for, District 155 Superintendent Steve Olson said Tuesday.

The district is down by 140 students for the upcoming school year, Olson said.

Devin Hester, president of the District 155 Education Association, has attributed the cuts to declining enrollment.

Lima will return to court May 4.

Full Article & Source:
Prairie Ridge High School teacher pleads not guilty to financial exploitation charges

Woman accused of stealing thousands from local senior citizen

A Winchendon, Mass., woman was indicted Monday on charges she stole about $63,000 from a senior citizen in the Monadnock Region with whom she held a position of trust.

Karla Cloutier, 49, faces five charges in Cheshire County Superior Court of financial exploitation of an elderly, disabled or impaired adult. The alleged crimes occurred in Fitzwilliam and Rindge between January 2016 and January 2017.

Prosecutors allege Cloutier made “multiple withdrawals” from three bank accounts belonging to the now 79-year-old woman, identified in court documents as G.S. They also allege Cloutier used one of those accounts to write a check, and cashed out a certificate of deposit belonging to G.S.

According to court documents, the amount in each case exceeded $1,500, the threshold that turns financial exploitation into a class A felony, which can carry more severe penalties.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt; rather, it is a determination by a grand jury that prosecutors have enough evidence to take the case to trial.

Neither the indictments, nor a Thursday news release from the N.H. Attorney General’s Office announcing the charges, specify the nature of the relationship between Cloutier and G.S.

They state only that Cloutier had a “fiduciary obligation” to her alleged victim. That obligation can mean someone is “an agent under a durable power of attorney, guardian, conservator, or trustee,” according to the provision of the N.H. Criminal Code covering financial exploitation of the elderly.

Brandon H. Garod, an assistant attorney general with the office’s Elder Abuse and Exploitation Unit, declined to release further details about the case, citing a general policy of not sharing details that aren’t in public documents.

Garod said his office receives about 10 to 15 reports of financial exploitation of the elderly each week, though many are unfounded.

Prosecutors also charged Cloutier with five counts of theft by unauthorized taking, which, according to court documents, appear to stem from the same alleged conduct that prompted the financial exploitation charges.

According to the news release, the theft charges are “alternate counts.” That typically means a defendant won’t be convicted of both sets of charges. Both the theft and financial exploitation charges are class A felonies, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $4,000 fine.

Defendants found guilty of financial exploitation are also supposed to pay full restitution to their victims.

Cloutier is scheduled to be arraigned in court March 8.

Full Article & Source: 
Woman accused of stealing thousands from local senior citizen