Florissant woman sentenced in financial exploitation of disabled person

FLORISSANT • After a four-year legal saga, a woman has been sentenced to probation for using a person with special needs to get a loan and cellphone services.

Vivian Ann Becker, 59, of the 3800 block of Kentucky Derby Drive, entered an Alford plea of guilty Nov. 30 to one felony count of financial exploitation of the disabled. Under the terms of the plea, if she completes her probation without incident, the case would be cleared from her public record.

An Alford plea means a defendant does not admit to the crime but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence to get a conviction.

Becker could not be reached for comment.

As a condition in the case, she must not have contact with the victim, her former stepdaughter. She must also pay restitution to a witness, Verizon, Sprint and Check ’N Go totaling about $5,000.

According to court records, Vivian Becker was the ex-wife of the victim’s father, Bill, who died on Aug. 7, 2014.

A new caretaker contacted police when she noticed numerous collection letters addressed to the victim. Further investigation by police found that the accounts were opened in the victim’s name between July 2, 2014 and Nov. 9, 2014, including a $1,529.39 loan from Check ‘N Go at Mayfair Plaza in Florissant and cellphone charges.

Vivian told police that Bill Becker reached out to her and reconciled their relationship before his death because he wanted his adult daughter to have someone help her become more independent.

Vivian told police that she had taken her former stepdaughter to open the accounts because she thought it was important that the victim have a mobile phone, and be able to pay moving expenses so the two women could move into a new residence together.

The victim told police that Vivian had told her that the accounts would help her establish credit that would allow her to buy a car and perhaps a house of her own, even though she didn’t drive nor have income other than disability payments.

She also told police that Vivian, while married to Bill, would sell their belongings at garage sales without their permission. She also said Vivian often threatened to put her in a group home if she didn’t do what she was told.

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Florissant woman sentenced in financial exploitation of disabled person

GBI makes arrest in disabled, elderly exploitation case

WALB.com, South Georgia News, Weather, Sports

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Agents with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation made an arrest in a multi-county investigation of the exploitation of disabled or elderly adults.

Michelle Oliver, 39, was arrested Tuesday at her home in Forsyth after investigators with several agencies searched a personal care facility in Albany.

Oliver has been transported to the Dougherty County Jail and will have her first court appearance Thursday morning.

According to officials, the investigation began in July when neighbors told police that residents renting from Oliver were begging for food.

During the search at the homes at South Jackson Street and Flintside Drive, seven disabled or elderly adults were found. They were treated by EMS and Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and relocated to licensed facilities.

The apartments were condemned by Albany Code Enforcement because of the living conditions.

When officials searched Oliver's home in Forsyth and a residence connected to Oliver in Macon, seven additional elderly or disabled adults were found. They were all relocated.

Oliver is facing charges for exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults, elder persons, and residents (felony); neglect of a disabled adult, elder person, and resident (felony); and for operating an unlicensed personal care home (misdemeanor).

The investigation is still active and more charges against Oliver are expected. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the GBI office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080.

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GBI makes arrest in disabled, elderly exploitation case

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