Operator of unlicensed Roswell care home charged with elder exploitation, police say

by Dan Raby

Roswell police say a search for a missing elderly man ended with an unlicensed personal care home shut down and its operator arrested.

Investigators say 58-year-old Deborah Callaway is now facing two counts of elder exploitation, two counts of elder trafficking, financial transaction card fraud, theft by taking, and third-degree forgery.

According to officials, the investigation began in January after a man was reported missing from a home on the 1000 block of Worthington Hills Drive. The man was found safe at an Atlanta shelter, and police say they learned in the process that Callaway was using the address as a senior care home, which she was not licensed to do.

Authorities say that 10 adults lived in the home with Callaway, many of whom slept in converted living rooms, dining rooms, and a backyard shed.

"Beyond the living conditions, evidence also revealed that Callaway was exploiting the resident's financial resources for her own personal gain," the police department said in a statement.

Authorities say that 10 elderly adults lived in the home with Callaway, many of whom slept in converted living rooms, dining rooms, and a backyard shed. Roswell Police Department

On March 11, the Roswell Police Department executed a search warrant at the home and arrested Calloway. Officials say the residents received medical evaluations and were moved to safe housing.

"What began as a routine missing person call evolved into a major protective operation, fundamentally improving the lives of ten vulnerable adults because our officers refused to ignore the red flags they saw on scene," said Chief of Police James Conroy. "This case is a powerful reminder that public safety is a team effort. We are incredibly grateful to our partner agencies for helping us ensure these seniors are now in a safe environment where they can receive the care they deserve."

Investigators are asking anyone with information that could help with the case to call the Roswell Police Department at (770) 640-4100 or Crime Stoppers Atlanta at (404) 577-8477. 

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Operator of unlicensed Roswell care home charged with elder exploitation, police say

 

Orangeburg care home owner gets prison for locking up residents

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - An Orangeburg woman has pleaded guilty to elder abuse and sentenced to prison for locking up residents in an unlicensed care home.

Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Estelle Amelia Hutchinson, 53, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Orangeburg County to one count of neglect of a vulnerable adult, one count of criminal conspiracy, and one count of operating a community residential care home without a license.

Judge Charles McCutchen sentenced her to five years in prison, suspended to three years’ active time in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, followed by three years of probation.

Hutchinson is barred from contact with boarding homes, nursing homes, or any other residential care facility for vulnerable adults.

An investigation revealed that between Jan. 16 and Feb. 15, 2024, Hutchinson ordered residents to be confined in locked rooms and denied them access to basic necessities such as food, clothing, medicine, shelter, supervision, medical services, and a safe means of exit.

After the ordeal, the residents were immediately taken into emergency protective custody by law enforcement.

Orangeburg firefighters found a malfunctioning natural gas heater was causing a buildup of fumes inside the residence, requiring the immediate evacuation and venting of the residence.

Hutchinson’s co-conspirator, Tracy Timothy Wright, 52, of Orangeburg, was sentenced April 10 to three years in prison and two years of probation after pleading guilty to neglect of a vulnerable adult and criminal conspiracy. 

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Orangeburg care home owner gets prison for locking up residents 

Augusta woman gets 15-year sentence for elder abuse

An Augusta woman who neglected and stole from elderly and disabled adults pleaded guilty Monday in Richmond County Superior Court.

Maxine Donaldson, 53, pleaded in two cases containing the charges of neglect of an elderly person, operating an unlicensed personal care home, and 13 counts of exploitation of an elderly person. The plea negotiation was for a prison term of 10 to 15 years. Judge Daniel J. Craig sentenced Donaldson to 15 years followed by five years on probation.

Donaldson was arrested in 2017 for exploitation of an elderly adult for stealing $25,000 from a 69-year-old Alzheimer’s patient in her licensed personal care home, Shavonna’s Place. She added herself to the man’s bank account without the knowledge or consent of his children. The man was placed at Donaldson’s home, where she agreed to take care of him for $1,600 a month. A few months later, she increased his monthly fee to $2,600 without telling his children, Assistant District Attorney Amanda Pennington said.

While on bond in that case, the Crimes Against the Vulnerable and Elderly task force discovered she had set up an unlicensed home on Belair Road, Pennington said. Conditions of her bond included closing the personal care home and getting out of the business.

The CAVE investigation found Donaldson had moved vulnerable adults from her licensed home into the unlicensed home, and used a mentally disabled patient to take care of the others. A disabled resident told CAVE investigators that he didn’t know how much he paid Donaldson from his $2,400 monthly benefits, but he said he got $30 a month in spending money, Pennington said. Bank records for an elderly man revealed Donaldson had added her name to his account and used a debit card to steal around $9,000.

Pennington asked the judge to impose a 15-year prison sentence because Donaldson continued to prey on people who put their complete trust in her and couldn’t defend themselves.

Defense attorney Shawn Merzlak asked the judge to consider a sentence of 10 years in prison. Donaldson, who had no prior criminal record, had a lifetime of service and volunteer work in the community. he said. She worked with Hyde Park residents to help them understand the extent of contamination of the neighborhood, and she helped children through years of work with her foundation, Big Sisters in Action. She took part in gathering Christmas packages for senior citizens, raising funds for families to have Thanksgiving dinners, and feeding the homeless, Merzlak said.

Donaldson apologized to anyone she might have harmed and said she was taking responsibility for any lack of judgment.

The judge imposed the special conditions of elder abuse, including putting Donaldson on the elder abuse registry. Craig also imposed restitution of $34,000. Donaldson agreed to release an estimated $8,000 to $9,000 to the victims that was confiscated during the search of her unlicensed home.

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Augusta woman gets 15-year sentence for elder abuse