COTTAGE GROVE, Minn. – Today, Attorney General Brad Schimel announced
the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against
Matthew D. Erickson of Cottage Grove, Minn., for contracting to deliver
snow removal services, and never completing those services for 111
victims nationwide, 28 in Wisconsin. Many of the victims were over the
age of 60. The Elm Grove Police Department in Wisconsin and local law
enforcement in Minnesota assisted DOJ with the arrest of Erickson today
and he remains in custody in Minnesota, awaiting extradition to
Wisconsin.
DOJ’s criminal complaint alleges that victims contracted with Erickson’s
company, Snow Angels, for snow removal services, but the services were
never completed. 111 victims have been identified nationwide, across the
following states: Wisconsin, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts,
Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Rhode Island. 28 victims are
from Wisconsin, and reside in Waukesha, Milwaukee, Washington, and
Racine counties. In Wisconsin, the total amount of restitution is
currently $13,060; nationwide, the amount is in excess of $50,000.
A defendant in a criminal case is innocent until proven guilty.
Relevant court filings are available below. This case is being
prosecuted by DOJ Criminal Litigation Unit Assistant Attorney General
Rich Chiapete.
If you have further information about Erickson or the company Snow
Angels, please contact Wisconsin DOJ Consumer Protection investigators
at (608) 266-8063.
Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel launched the Attorney
General’s Task Force on Elder Abuse in August 2017, charging the task
force with compiling the resources and knowledge of a multi-disciplinary
team of professionals to study the impact of elder abuse in Wisconsin
and assess ways to improve outcomes for this growing population of
citizens. In addition to developing strategies to address barriers in
investigations and prosecutions of elder abuse, the task force will
strengthen consumer protection for seniors and create recommendations
for improved cross-system communications.
“Elder abuse is vastly underreported; only one in 44 cases of
financial abuse is ever reported[1],” said Attorney General Schimel.
“The Wisconsin Department of Justice is working hard to get resources
out to communities, increase collaboration in order to better serve
elderly victims, and hold criminals exploiting our loved ones
accountable.”
In addition to the task force’s work, Attorney General Schimel has
moved quickly to provide public safety tools to seniors and their loved
ones. In October 2017, Attorney General Schimel expanded Dose of
Reality, a statewide prevention campaign designed to raise awareness
about prescription drug abuse and its effect on the opioid epidemic, to
include resources and information unique to seniors and caregivers.
This year, the attorney general launched a radio ad campaign to raise
awareness about elder abuse and encourage citizens to report abuse
against seniors at Medicaid-funded or other senior care facilities. The
attorney general also started “Safe Seniors Camera Program” a new pilot
project in Brown, Outagamie, and Winnebago counties that allows
Wisconsin residents, who suspect a caregiver is abusing their loved one,
to use a covert camera to provide surveillance over someone who may
have been harmed by a caregiver in their residence.
To report suspected financial, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse,
please contact your county elder adult-at-risk agency or call
1-800-488-3780. If you witness an act of abuse, neglect, or exploitation
that requires immediate attention, please call 911.
Full Article & Source:
Wisconsin DOJ Files Charges Against Minnesota Man for Allegedly Preying on Elderly in Wisconsin and 8 Other States
