Local exploitation case sheds light on rise in elderly financial abuse

By Kaylee Dusang

Reports of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation have recently been on the rise in Texas. Earlier this year, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) reported that there were more than 50,000 confirmed cases in 2022 alone.

Alisa Powell and Bobbie Ferrell’s story of financial exploitation hits close to home. Powell contacted Spiderman Pest Control when she believed her 89-year-old mom, Ferrell, was experiencing a small rodent infestation.

Powell first noticed the sign advertised in her mom’s neighborhood. When Powell called, they agreed to do a free estimate to determine if there were rodents in Ferrell’s house. Powell, who was at work while the house was being inspected, asked the pest control service to call her with the estimate.  

“I was waiting on my phone to ring for the free estimate and for the opinion of what we had going on here,” Powell said. “Well, my phone never rang.”

When Spiderman Pest Control arrived at Ferrell’s house, they asked her to write a check for $1,895 before proceeding to spray the house for insects. Powell said the check was asked to be written directly to David Bullard, who is believed to be the owner of Spiderman Pest Control.

According to court documents, the service should have cost between $200-$300. 
“If something doesn't sound right about a service or price, please stop and call your family or a friend you can trust to give you advice,” Ferrell said in an email. “Never act on something that just doesn't feel right.”

Although Powell asked for the money back, she said the check had already been cashed. Powell said Bullard proceeded to tell her that the house was overrun with rats and that it would cost more money. 

“I feel completely cheated and I feel horrible that my mother has lost $1,895,” Powell said.

According to the DFPS, financial exploitation of an elderly person is the illegal or misuse of a person’s money or property for personal or financial benefit.

Ferrell’s case was not alone. There were three more confirmed cases in Gatesville that were connected to the pest control business. One included an 87-year-old who was charged $3,290.80 for a flea extermination, a service that normally costs around $300. 

Bullard was charged with four counts of exploitation of an elderly person. Bullard was arrested in July and released on bond after each arrest.

Bullard appeared to target older adults between the ages of 70 and 90 years old, said Cody Lee, operations commander of Gatesville Police Department.

“To me, they grew up in a time when somebody’s word actually meant something, and you took their word as it was,” Lee said.

As of Wednesday, Spiderman Pest Control’s website is live and there are still signs advertising the business around the Gatesville area. Lee said in an email that he does not know whether the business is still active.

“If they show up to offer a service, even if you call, do not let them do anything and don’t pay them anything until you understand what their fees and services are,” Powell said.

People can report suspected financial exploitation, abuse, or neglect of older adults to DFPS’ Texas Abuse Hotline at (800) 252-5400.

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Local exploitation case sheds light on rise in elderly financial abuse

Elderly woman falls prey to robbers in Augusta kidnapping, exploitation case

If you know anything about the robbers who used this car, the Richmond County Sheriff's Office wants to hear from you.(WRDW)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Authorities say an elderly woman was targeted by three people in a robbery by intimidation, kidnapping and exploitation.

The victim was not physically harmed, authorities said.

Although it happened Feb. 1, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office released information about it Tuesday.

The incident began at a Walgreens at 3228 Wrightsboro Road, authorities said.

A vehicle was occupied by a white male wearing a worn blue dress suit with a side satchel, a black female wearing gray pants and tan jacket who was carrying a green purse (possibly armed with an unknown type firearm), and a heavyset black male or female who wore sweat pants and a hoodie.

Authorities released a photo of the car they used.

Investigators are seeking any information regarding the vehicle or the identities of the three suspects.

Any information concerning these subjects or this vehicle, please contact Investigator Ryan Ferguson at 706-821-1027 or any on-duty investigator at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, 706-821-1020 or 706-821-1080.

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Elderly woman falls prey to robbers in Augusta kidnapping, exploitation case 

$8,000 Rolex watch listed among St. Lucie County exploitation case purchases

ST. LUCIE COUNTY — A man accused of stealing more than $11,700 from a man with Alzheimer’s disease was jailed on a host of charges, according to records obtained Thursday.

Joseph Fernandez, 56, of the 200 block of Brazilian Circle in Port St. Lucie, was arrested Wednesday on charges including exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult, grand theft, forgery, fraudulent use of credit card and organized fraud after a Port St. Lucie police investigation.

Police began investigating in January, after family members learned from the state Department of Children and Families that their relative was “possibly being exploited” by Fernandez, records show.

Family members noted at least eight automated teller machine withdrawals in June and July 2019, along with an $8,000 purchase at a jewelry business in Palm Beach County.

A detective spoke with the man, who said Fernandez helped him by driving him around for errands. He agreed to pay Fernandez $157 weekly and let Fernandez use his vehicle.

Police asked the man about documents, including one in which he was supposed to give $85,000 and his pet to Fernandez upon his death, with his signature. The victim said he never signed them.

A representative of the Palm Beach County jewelry business said a Rolex watch was purchased in July for $8,000. The invoice said it was sold to Fernandez. It was purchased with the man's debit card.

Police also accused Fernandez of forging the man's signature on the title to his vehicle to “gift” himself the man's vehicle.

Only after a detective spoke to Fernandez’s lawyer and told him of possible criminal charges did Fernandez transfer the title back and return the vehicle, records show.

Family members told police the man died Feb. 9.

Records provided to police showed the man was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

A booking photo of Fernandez was not available Thursday.

Fernandez also was arrested on a charge of resisting arrest without violence after sheriff’s deputies reported he tried to hide before they forced their way into his home to arrest him on warrants related to the case.

Fernandez was held Thursday in the St. Lucie County Jail on $28,250 bond, a jail official said.

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$8,000 Rolex watch listed among St. Lucie County exploitation case purchases

Daughter ordered to pay restitution in Lawrence County exploitation case

 By Jeff Lehr

MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — A rural Cassville woman entered an Alford plea this week to a charge of financial exploitation of the elderly with respect to use of her mother's Social Security checks while she was in a nursing home.

Megan C. Curran, 33, entered the plea Wednesday in Lawrence County Circuit Court, where she had been scheduled to go to trial on the charge.

An Alford plea admits no guilt but acknowledges the likelihood of a conviction if the matter were to proceed to trial. Curran entered the plea as part of a plea agreement with the Lawrence County prosecutor's office that called for a suspended sentence and probation.

Circuit Judge Jack Goodman accepted the plea deal and assessed Curran five years for the conviction, but he suspended execution of the sentence and placed her on supervised probation instead for five years. The judge also ordered that she pay $775 in restitution.

A probable-cause affidavit states that the defendant's mother was placed in the Lawrence County Manor in January 2017 and that the defendant signed paperwork at the time committing all of her mother's Social Security income to payment of her bills there. The affidavit alleged that in four months' time, the defendant accrued $775 of her mother's income for other purposes. The document states that she told an investigator with Mount Vernon police that she used the money to buy her mother personal items.

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Daughter ordered to pay restitution in Lawrence County exploitation case

Woman Arrested Again in Exploitation Case

DUNBARTON, NH — A local woman arrested recently for allegedly financially exploiting an elderly, disabled, or impaired adult, has been arrested again, this time, for felony witness tampering.

Giselle Lemieux, 48, a homeless woman with no fixed address who is currently incarcerated, was arrested on May 10, 2017, on the charge. According to Dunbarton Police, Lemieux – who is being held on $4,000 cash bail at the Merrimack County House of Corrections – is previously facing “numerous charges” connected to the original case.

The charges include financial exploitation of an elderly, disabled or impaired adult, bail jumping, criminal mischief and five counts of default or breach of bail conditions, according to Sgt. Chris Remillard of the Dunbarton Police Department.

While she was previously out on bail, police allege, “Lemieux contacted the victim, stayed at the victim’s home and violated other conditions of her release,” Remillard stated. During the course of the continued investigation, police reportedly learned that Lemieux allegedly called the victim from jail on March 9, after initially being arrested. A warrant was issued for the new charge this week.

Lemieux was processed at county and refused bail. She’s expected to be arraigned later today.

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Woman Arrested Again in Exploitation Case