Feds Freeze Assets in Elder Abuse Case

A federal court has frozen the bank accounts and assets of the brother and sister-in-law of Coupeville resident Shea Saenger, who last month pled guilty to bilking an elderly Alzheimer’s victim out of $2.2 million.

A restraining order and injunction to preserve the personal properties of Mark and Rosemary Lumpkin of Arkansas was filed July 28 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

In the filing, the federal government states that Saenger, 60, admits that she fraudulently obtained about $2 million from 80-year-old Ellensburg resident Norman Butler and transferred more than $1.1 million of it to her brother and sister-in-law.

Saenger faces up to 20 years in prison when she is sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones on Oct. 7.

An affidavit from the federal government traces the fraudulent proceeds from Saenger to bank accounts held by the Lumpkins, and from those accounts, purchases of vehicles and farm equipment.

The restraining order and preliminary injunction freezes the Lumpkins’ savings and checking accounts, and vehicles that include tractors, trucks, trailers and a Harvest Master grain hopper.

The injunctions are designed to freeze the assets to make sure they are available to anyone making a claim for them, such as Butler’s family.

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Feds Freeze Assets in Elder Abuse Case

Alzheimer's Increasing with Rapid Aging Population

There are more than 5-million people suffering from Alzheimer's in the U.S., six out of ten of them will wander off at least once and baby boomers are being called the silver tsunami.

The amount of Silver Alerts for elderly with dementia is up, but according to the Alzheimer's Association so is early diagnoses.

More than 10,000 Baby Boomers are turning 65 each day, and then chances for the disease go up every five years. Now just imagine you're loved-one is one of about 70-percent of them who will wander off.

"You want to find someone in the first 24-hours if they wander." Tiffany Phillips with the Alzheimer's Association says the triple digit temperature is dangerous because they don't take care of themselves, just focus on going to the place they once felt safe, that might not even exist anymore.

The number of people with Alzheimer's is expected to rise to 16 million by 2050.

Full Article, Video and Source:
Alzheimer's Increasing With Rapid Aging Population

Man Takes Plea and is Sentenced to Five Years Probation Plus Restitution

A 62-year-old man accused of stealing from an Alzheimer's patient pleaded no contest in court.

Donald R. Stewart of New Port Richey was arrested in December 2009, when deputies said he took charge of the 91-year-old woman's finances, draining her bank account and running up thousands in credit card charges. Stewart, who lived in the woman's home while she was in a nursing home, pleaded no contest to exploitation of the elderly and was sentenced to five years of probation, said his attorney, Geoff Cox.

The woman has since died. Stewart must pay $20,000 in restitution to her estate and was required to relinquish any interest in it.

Full Article and Source:
Pasco Man Takes Plea for Raiding Elderly Woman's Funds

Ciavarella Sentenced!

Former Luzerne County Judge Mark Ciavarella was given a sentence that may not be for life, but will keep him in prison until he is 89 years old. U.S. District Judge Edwin Kosik sentenced Ciavarella to 336 months in prison - 28 years for a man who is 61.

The sentence came after Ciavarella opened remarks with apologies to family, friends, the public and juveniles,then turned defiant and repeated his claim that he never took money in exchange for sending juveniles to private detention facilities.

U.S. Assistant District Attorney Gordon Zubrod cited that defiance as proof Ciavarella remains unwilling to acknowledge his crimes and actions.

Ciavarella initially apologized to family "for the hurt and embarrassment I caused them by my irresponsible acts." He apologized to the "Citizens of Luzerne County for violating the trust they place in me, and I hope they can some day forgive me. He apologized to the court bench and attorney's bar for shattering public trust. And to the thousands of juveniles who had appeared before him.

"Forgive me for being a hypocrite by not practicing what I preached. I would hope that they would learn from my mistakes and realize that everything we do in life has consequences and that there are dire consequences when we make decisions we know are wrong."

Full Article and Source:
Ciavarella Sentenced to 28 Years in Prison

Health Care Worker Charged in Vulnerable Adult Exploitation

Attorney General Tom Horne announced the charging of Rosario Valenzuela Bravo in Tucson on allegations stemming from a large scale theft from vulnerable adult victims.

The charges, filed July 12, 2011 in Pima County, are a result of a joint investigation conducted by the Tucson Police Department, the Attorney General's Special Investigations Section, and the Attorney General's Health Care Fraud and Abuse Section of the Criminal Division.

Bravo, 55, was charged with 1 count of Fraudulent Schemes and Artifices, 3 counts of Forgery and 1 count of Theft/Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult.

According to the allegations, Rosario Bravo purported herself to be a licensed CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and was hired by the elderly victims to provide daily care in their home. In February, 2011 a family member realized that several of the victims' accounts had been tampered with. An investigation ensued into the checking, savings and money market accounts as well as credit cards belonging to the victims. An accounting of the fraudulent transactions revealed a loss of over $60,000. The State has alleged that Ms. Bravo is responsible.

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Health Care Worker Charged in Vulnerable Adult Exploitation Case

Women Plead Guilty to Exploitation

In Hardin Circuit Court Wednesday, 73-year-old Hazel F. Martin of Radcliff pleaded guilty to four counts of knowing exploitation of an adult over $300, after admitting she used her position under a power of attorney to unlawfully take more than $100,000 from the accounts of Marie Farmer, during times when Farmer was hospitalized or in a nursing home. Farmer, who has since passed away, was represented in court by the executor of her estate. The charges carry a possible sentence of five to 10 years on each count.

Iris Hodge, 63, also pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of receiving stolen property under $10,000 and four counts of facilitation to exploitation of an adult over $300. Hodge, also of Radcliff, admitted to facilitating Martin’s thefts through various means, including allowing Martin to deposit various checks written against the victim’s account into Hodge’s own account. The charges against Hodge carry a possible sentence of one to five years.

“The effects of financial exploitation on the elderly can be as devastating as physical abuse,” General Conway said. “Protecting Kentucky’s seniors from abuse, neglect, and financial fraud remain a top priority of mine.”

The investigation of this case was handled by the Office of the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations, with the assistance of the Kentucky Adult Protective Services (APS) of the Department of Community Based Services. Prosecution of this case was handled by General Conway’s Office of Special Prosecutions at the request of the Hardin County Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Sentencing is set for January 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in Hardin Circuit Court.

Full Article, Video and Source:
Two Hardin County Women Plead Guilty to Exploitation

NASGA Member Rena Moss on Northshore 'Live' Cooper's Corner

Bev Cooper interviews Ms. Moss who escaped guardianship.









Source:
Rena Moss - A Probate Survivor, Part 1

Rena Moss - A Probate Survivor, Part 2

Rena Moss - A Probate Survivor, Part 3

Rena Moss - A Probate Survivor, Part 4

See Also:
Northshore "Live" Cooper's Corner Blog

Note: Northshore "Live" Cooper's Corner Host Bev Cooper has dedicated these programs to those who are victims of Cook County Probate Court. Live broadcasts are aired in Highland Park on channel 19 Wednesday at 7:30 PM.

Britney Spears Attorneys Ask for Delay

Lawyers for Britney Spears conservatorship are asking a judge to delay a key ruling in a breach of contract lawsuit filed against the pop star in connection with her Elizabeth Arden fragrance, because they need more time to prepare a response, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.

Brand Sense, which brokered the fragrance deal for Britney, wants the judge to unseal documents in her conservatorship, despite a ruling in May 2011 that denied that motion.

The licensing company is asking Judge Reva Goetz to hear the matter on August 17, 2011, but Team Spears say they need more time to respond and don't understand Brand Sense's urgency for the relief they are seeking.

Court docs state: "If the hearing on Brand Sense's Motion to Unseal Documents is not continued to August 30, 2011, the Co-Conservators will be prejudiced and suffer irreparable harm by not having sufficient time to oppose the motion which involves important and very complex issues concerning, among other things, the Conservatee's privacy rights."

The judge previously ruled that Britney can't be deposed or called as a witness in the lawsuit. Brand Sense is seeking $10 million dollars in damages because they allege they weren't getting the pre-agree share of profits from Britney's fragrance.

Full Article and Source:
Britney Spears Attorneys Ask for Delay in Fragerance Lawsuit

See Also:
Court Rules Britney Spears Does Not Have to be Deposed

Is Gary Harvey Being Held Hostage for His Bank Account?

For six years, Gary Harvey has been minimally conscious on a drug regimen at cash-strapped St. Joseph's Hospital in Elmira, N.Y. While his bank account empties he has undergone 31 surgeries in the past two years, according to his wife, who has no say in his insurance claims or treatment, has been removed as his Guardian, and has awaited an August ruling to begin bringing her husband home.

Listen to the interview!

See Also:
The Silence of Kevin Moshier

Join "Rescue Gary Harvey" on Facebook!