Caretaker arrested for identity theft of elderly people, including her patients

by: Jordan Baker

(KRON) — A caretaker was arrested for identity thefts of multiple elderly people including residents at the facility where she was employed, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department. 

A representative for an 82-year-old Santa Rosa care facility resident noticed multiple unauthorized online transactions of over $15,000 on the elderly man’s account in Nov. 2023. According to police, it would be impossible for the man to make the purchases due to his physical state. The representative and the victim were unaware of who conducted the purchases, police said. 

SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team detectives served investigative search warrants to credit card companies, commercial businesses, online and electronic service providers, and online marketplaces. Detectives determined the suspect was responsible for over $19,000 in unauthorized credit card charges using the victim’s accounts. Detectives identified 32-year-old Santa Rosa resident Imelda Ruby Reyes-Medina from shipping and contact information linked to multiple transactions. Reyes-Medina was not a caretaker at the facility. 

Detectives executed search warrants for the two residences associated with Reyes-Medina in March.

• 2700 block of Mohawk Street
• 1000 block of Bellevue Road 

Officers located items Reyes-Medina purchased using the victim’s credit cards, including high-end electronics, baby accessories, jewelry, furniture, and other household items.

In the search of Reyes-Medina’s property, detectives located personal identifying information and credit cards for two individuals not residing with Reyes-Medina. The individuals’ information belonged to residents of a Santa Rosa residential care facility where Reyes-Medina was employed. 

Reyes-Medina was located at the Mohawk Street residence. Reyes-Medina was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Jail for the following charges:

1st case:

• Identity Theft
• Theft by Use of a Credit Card
• Grand Theft by Access Cards
• Financial Elder Abuse
• Commit a Felony While on Bail

2nd case:              

• Identity Theft (2 Counts)
• Commit a Felony While on Bail
• Grand Theft by Access Cards
• Financial Elder Abuse

The investigations are active and ongoing.

 According to police, Reyes-Medina was free on bail from a previous investigation involving charges of identity theft from an elder/dependent adult by a caretaker for a Sebastopol case. 

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Caretaker arrested for identity theft of elderly people, including her patients

US official spends elderly woman's $100,000 savings on facelift, new home

Story by India Today World Desk

An official in the US state of Florida has been arrested for defrauding a 96-year-old woman of her savings worth more than USD100,000 and spending the money on personal expenses, including a facelift, hotel stays, rental cars, and expensive perfumes from high-end retailers. Authorities said the accused fraudulently used the woman's power of attorney to buy a home in the latter's name.

The accused, Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill, was arrested on Thursday. She faces a total of seven, including three counts of exploitation of the elderly, mortgage fraud, scheme to defraud; and two counts of fraud, the Florida-based local WESH (channel 2) TV station reported.

The 59-year-old who was first elected in 2013, has pleaded not guilty and posted USD40,000 bond following her arrest. She could face 180 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

Hill, a Democrat, is also accused of racking up over USD10,000 in debt under the elderly woman's name.

According to the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, the matter came to light earlier this month after a judge issued an injunction which barred Hill from accessing the elderly woman's bank accounts and homes, which the accused took control of.

She first met the woman in 2021.

According to authorities, Hill took advantage of the woman as she suffers from cognitive disabilities, age-related health issues, as well as her mental condition, which is already an issue in the civil case.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Special Agent in Charge John Vecchio told reporters that "Hill learnt of the woman living in poor conditions and the two were connected".

She "became aware of this resident through her position as a city commissioner, and because of that, was able to lend what appeared to be benefit services" but used her influence over the elderly woman to "fraudulently obtain a power of attorney", WESH 2 quoted Vecchio as saying.

According to law enforcement officers, the accused "repeatedly used the victim's finances to purchase rental cars, hotel stays, personal luxury items like expensive perfume from high-end retailers".

However, Hill, in a statement to the television station, called the matter "unfortunate" and said she "loved and cared" for the elderly woman "like my own family".

"After 10 years of service for the City of Orlando, I've illustrated my love and compassion for my constituents, my city and my family. I know the truth, I know I'm entitled to due process in which I trust, and I will await my day in court to prove my innocence," she added.

A hearing has been scheduled for April 5.

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has hinted that he would suspend Hill if she was indicted.

"This is a target-rich environment, this state, for exploitation, because you have a lot of seniors, and you have a lot of seniors who are retired and have some income... If a municipal elected official is indicted by a grand jury, then I would suspend. That's typical," WESH 2 quoted the governor as saying.

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US official spends elderly woman's $100,000 savings on facelift, new home

See Also:
Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill accused of financial exploitation of 96-year-old woman

Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill arrested, faces charges of elderly exploitation, mortgage fraud

Waterloo couple charged with dependent adult abuse in guardianship of relative

by Jeff Reinitz

WATERLOO — A Waterloo couple has been arrested after a relative was found living with untreated bedsores and other ailments in January.

Police arrested Jerry Lee Richards-Trask, 51, and Sunshine Marie Trask, 40, on Thursday for charges of intentional dependent adult abuse, a felony. They were later released pending trial.

Court records indicate Richards-Trask’s 66-year-old sister was found with bed sores that went almost to the bone.

“Per medical providers treating (her), her condition resulted from sitting in a chair or lying in a bed for months without access to repositioning, adequate hygiene, or regular medical care,” court records state.

The woman had been diagnosed with mental illness as a child and had been cared for by her mother. The mother passed away nine years ago, and Richards-Trask took over the court-ordered guardianship in 2015 and oversaw her daily activities, records state.

During a June 2023 medical visit, doctors expressed concern about the condition of the woman’s skin and suggested moving her to a higher level of care. But no follow-up visits were scheduled.

Then on Jan. 11, 2024, paramedics were called to their home at 639 Wallgate Ave. and found the woman on the floor covered in urine and feces, records state. She was taken to MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center for treatment where doctors noticed the bed sores and found she was suffering from COVID-19 and sepsis.

She was placed on a respirator and later moved to a Des Moines hospital.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services sought an emergency order to treat the woman in March while measures were taken to find an alternate guardian, court records state.

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Waterloo couple charged with dependent adult abuse in guardianship of relative

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Lincoln City police dog helps locate missing elderly couple in crashed car

LINCOLN CITY, Ore. — An elderly man and woman were safely rescued with the help of K-9 Officer Nix after driving off an embankment on Highway 20 and getting trapped overnight, says the Lincoln City Police

On Wednesday Lincoln City Police K-9 Officer Nix and her handler, Officer Snidow, were sent to Mile Marker 17 on Highway 20 around 2:30 p.m. to help locate a missing driver.

Police say the driver, an 81-year-old man, had driven off the embankment of Highway 20 the night prior. The crash was not discovered until 2 p.m. the next day by a passerby.

When Officer Snidow and K-9 Nix arrived, they began searching the area. K-9 Nix quickly located the driver, who had walked away after the crash, around 100 yards from his car and stuck in an area of dense blackberries. Police say the driver had apparently had a medical episode, and he was taken to a Newport hospital

Officers Snidow and Nix found an elderly female passenger inside the crashed car who was suffering from a head injury. She was rescued and also taken to the same hospital.

"This incident highlights the importance of the Police K-9 program available in Lincoln City," the department said in a press release. "As there were no other K-9 units available in the county, Lincoln City Police Officer Snidow and K-9 Nix were instrumental in locating the driver and ensuring he received medical care. The Lincoln City Police Department is grateful for the community support that allows us to run this beneficial program."

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Lincoln City police dog helps locate missing elderly couple in crashed car

Hero the dog lives up to his name and leads rescuers to owner who spent 2 days in a ditch

by Omar Sherif

Hero, an Akita breed dog, led emergency crews to his owner after the man had fallen into a ditch near Taber, Alta. (Lost Paws Society, Taber Police Service)

A 61-year-old man in the southern Alberta town of Taber trapped in a muddy ditch for two days could have been there a lot longer if it wasn't for his dog — an Akita named Hero.

Police believe the man got stuck in mud while walking in the area, a location he frequents often with his two dogs: Hero and Tora. He was unable to move, and the location was out of clear sight from the road.

Then, on Thursday morning, police received a call about a large dog on the loose just north of the sugar refinery in Taber — a town about 270 kilometres southeast of Calgary.

When officers arrived, they couldn't locate the dog, Const. Austin Weersink with the Taber Police Service told CBC News.

Dog attack leads to rescue

A few hours later, police received another call regarding the same area. This time, a man named Curtis Dahl told police he was with his dog when they were attacked by another large dog.

The dog who was responsible for the attack was Hero, Taber police said in a post to Facebook. When police arrived on scene again they saw Hero laying on a berm and whistled to get his attention.

Weersink says that's when he heard a loud cry for help.

"I looked to my left where the individual who had been attacked was sitting in his vehicle, but his window was [rolled] up," he said. "So I whistled again, and the shriek came again and said, 'Help, I'm down here.'"

Weersink called for Hero to be taken under control, then walked over to where he heard the scream coming from to find the man lying on his back.

"The tall grass ... it's extremely tough to see someone in there," said the police officer.

'He really truly lives up to his name'

Police say Hero's owner was able to tell them that his loyal companion stayed by his side and kept him warm as temperatures dropped, and may have even fought off coyotes.

The man was rescued and taken to the Chinook Regional Hospital in the nearby city of Lethbridge, Alta.

Emergency crews in Taber, Alta., rescued the 61-year-old dog owner that was reportedly 'lodged in mud up to his hips' after police received reports of a dog attack in the area. (Submitted by Steve Swarbrick)

His dogs, Hero and another Akita named Tora, were taken in by the Taber's Lost Paws Society while he recovered.

"[Hero] was obviously quite anxious, confused, but quite calm actually," said Alana McPhee with the Lost Paws Society.

"He was involved in fighting because he was really just protecting his owner … I guess you could say he really truly lives up to his name."

Dog attack victim recovering

Dahl, the man whom Hero bit, told CBC News he went to the hospital for his injuries and his dog, Jack, was also treated.

Both are now recovering, but Dahl says he was understanding of the situation after hearing the full story.

"I think [Hero] thought my dog was a threat," he said. "But once I thought about it, I knew why this dog did what he did."

The Lost Paws Society has since launched a fundraising campaign for all of the pets involved that sustained injuries, as Tora also had a rod in a previously broken leg that had some screws come loose from likely "frantically running between the place her owner was trapped and her residence."

McPhee says she can tell both dogs are looking forward to being reunited with their owner. 

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Hero the dog lives up to his name and leads rescuers to owner who spent 2 days in a ditch

Dog adopted from Westside Shelter in Albuquerque saves owner's life one day after adoption

By Alaina Mencinger / Journal Staff Writer

Heel, Lassie. There’s a new courageous canine in town.

Meet Peanut, a black and white pup recently adopted from Albuquerque’s Westside shelter. The day after he was adopted, Peanut’s new owner, Andrew Budek-Schmeisser, said the dog saved his life.

Budek-Schmeisser, who suffers from frequent falls, wanted to adopt a bigger dog to help him balance and keep him mobile. But little did he know how perfectly Peanut would fit the role — until Budek-Schmeisser fell outside his house in Belen while his wife was at church.

“I was in trouble,” Budek-Schmeisser said. “I hit my head and my windpipe was occluded.”

Because of his head position, Budek-Schmeisser started choking and began to slip out of consciousness. The world was starting to fade from gray to black, he said.

But then he felt Peanut. The pup worked his way behind Budek-Schmeisser until he could lean on his furry friend. Peanut wiggled under his arm so Budek-Schmeisser could sit up. That’s when another of the couple’s dogs made its way over and helped “lever” him to his feet.

Peanut’s heroism hasn’t gone to his head, though. Although Budek-Schmeisser said he fits in “beautifully” with the family’s other dogs, Peanut is still terrorized by their 8-pound senior dog with a broken back.

The white-socked dog can be chatty — with a voice like Scooby Doo, Budek-Schmeisser said. But it’s his personality, intelligence and “strength of character” that make Peanut so lovable.

“We live in a world where there is a lot of bad news, there’s a lot of anger and there’s a lot of hate,” Budek-Schmeisser said. “It’s through the hearts of these creatures that we can see love writ large.”

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Dog adopted from Westside Shelter in Albuquerque saves owner's life one day after adoption

Former assisted living activities director charged with exploitation and larceny

VermontBiz The Attorney General’s Office announced that Lilac Rain Brown-Fisher, 28, of Essex Junction, Vermont, was charged yesterday with one count of felony Grand Larceny, one count of felony of Larceny from a Person, and one count of felony Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult.

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) brought the charges, alleging that Ms. Brown-Fisher, who was formerly an Activities Director at Maple Ridge Memory Care in Essex Junction, stole valuables and keepsakes from at least one elderly and disabled client. A joint investigation by the Essex Police Department and South Burlington Police Department, with the assistance of Maple Ridge’s management, was initiated when a family member of a resident of Maple Ridge Memory Care noticed that an heirloom ring had disappeared. The ring was later recovered, but the investigation revealed more instances of Ms. Brown-Fisher stealing jewelry from other clients at Maple Ridge Memory Care. Further charges are anticipated as MFRAU identifies those additional victims and contacts their families.

Ms. Brown-Fisher pleaded not guilty at her arraignment on March 28, 2024, in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Unit Criminal Division. The Court, Judge Kevin Griffin presiding, ordered conditions of release, including that Ms. Brown-Fisher has no contact with Maple Ridge residents or employees other than through counsel for the purpose of legal representation.

Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years imprisonment and/or a fine of not more than $10,000. Grand Larceny carries a maximum penalty of not more than ten years imprisonment and/or a fine of not more than $5,000. Larceny from a Person carries a maximum penalty of up to ten years imprisonment and/or a fine of not more than $500.

If you suspect anyone is being or has been exploited, neglected, or abused, contact local law enforcement immediately. Elder exploitation, neglect, and abuse may also be reported to Adult Protective Services by calling 800-564-1612 and MFRAU at https://ago.vermont.gov/medicaid-fraud-report-form. 

The Attorney General’s Office emphasizes that individuals charged with a crime are legally presumed innocent until their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source:
Former assisted living activities director charged with exploitation and larceny

Shelbyville Resident Faces Charges Following Allegations of Financial Exploitation

by Chandelar Williams

Shelbyville, TN - A Shelbyville resident, Mary Ann Pruitt, is facing serious charges following an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's Medicaid Fraud Control Division. The investigation began after concerns were raised by the Tennessee Department of Human Services Adult Protective Services regarding possible financial exploitation.

Mary Ann Pruitt, born on April 20, 1942, allegedly had possession of a debit card belonging to a former tenant of her residence, who was a recipient of TennCare. It's alleged that over a span of about two years, Pruitt used the tenant's debit card for personal purchases and cash withdrawals across multiple counties without authorization.

On Monday, the Bedford County Grand Jury issued indictments against Pruitt, charging her with one count of Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult and one count of Theft. Subsequently, authorities arrested Pruitt on Wednesday and placed her in custody at the Bedford County Jail. Bail was set at $25,000.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

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Shelbyville Resident Faces Charges Following Allegations of Financial Exploitation