Augusta woman faces possible indictment in unlicensed personal care home case

Charges against an Augusta woman accused of running an unlicensed personal care home where disabled residents were allegedly exploited and neglected will be considered by a grand jury for possible indictment.

At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing in Richmond County Civil Court for Tamika Burns, 41, presiding Judge H. Scott Allen found probable cause to send felony charges of operating an unlicensed personal care home and exploitation of an elderly or disable person to the grand jury. He dismissed a third charge of neglect of an elderly or disabled person.

Burns has been held without bond since her arrest Nov. 7. Richmond County Deputy Marshal Stephen Billman obtained the warrants for Burns’ arrest after investigating a complaint emailed to the Crimes Against the Vulnerable and Elderly task force, he testified Thursday.

Billman said he went to the home at 3541 Biltmore Place where he found four disabled people living in the dirty and roach-infested house. One of the residents was confined to a wheelchair and unable to move or speak, Billman testified. Another resident told him that she took care of the physically disabled man and kept house in exchange for $20 a month, he said. Both she and two other residents needed medication for mental illnesses.

Full Article & Source:
Augusta woman faces possible indictment in unlicensed personal care home case

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.

Full Article & Source:
GBI makes arrest in disabled, elderly exploitation case