LANSING - Attorney General Mike Cox today announced criminal charges against six individuals accused of financially exploiting senior citizens.  The charges are a result of Project $CAMS (Stop Crimes Against Michigan Seniors), an initiative to protect nursing home residents from scams, misappropriated resources and embezzlement. 

Operated by the Attorney General's office, along with the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, Project $CAMS uncovers potential financial exploitation by identifying nursing home residents with past due accounts.  Since the project was announced in May of 2008, 43 criminal cases have been filed. 

            "Seniors are among our most vulnerable residents when it comes to financial scams," Cox said.  "By teaming with federal law enforcement, my office is holding accountable those who target our parents and grandparents."

Charges announced today include:

·         Kevin Mark Crothers of Williamston, accused of embezzling his father's social security funds to play Keno, gambling away over $200,000 of his father's assets.

o        1 count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($20,000 or more), 55^th District Court, Mason.  Maximum penalty of 10 years and/or $15,000 or 3 times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

·         Alice Faye Wells of Detroit, accused of cashing and pocketing her aunt's Social Security and pension checks over the course of three years.

o        1 count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($20,000 or more), 46^th District Court, Southfield.  Maximum penalty of 10 years and/or $15,000 or 3 times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

·         Tamara Lynne Hoppe of Interlochen, accused of selling a truck belonging to a resident of Kalkaska County Adult Foster Care Facility and pocketing the money.

o        1 count of Larceny ($1,000 but less than $20,000) and 1 count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($200 but less than $1,000), 87^th District Court, Kalkaska.  Maximum penalty of 5 years and/or $10,000 or 3 times the value of the property stolen, whichever is greater. 

·         Kenneth Nicholas Nebor, Jr. of Prudenville, accused of using his elderly father's money to pay for his own expenses, including gas, groceries and phone bills.

o        1 count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 but less than $20,000), 87^th District Court, Grayling.  Maximum penalty of 5 years and/or $10,000 or 3 times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

·         Luwillis Gibson, Jr. of Muskegon, accused of diverting and spending the Social Security and pension income of a Muskegon nursing home resident.

o        1 count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 but less than $20,000), 60^th District Court, Muskegon.  Maximum penalty of 5 years and/or $10,000 or 3 times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

·         Susan Mary Kubsch of Stevensville, accused of stealing Social Security and pension income from an elderly nursing home resident.

o        1 count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult  ($1,000 but less than $20,000), 5^th District Court, St. Joseph.  Maximum penalty of 5 years an/or $10,000 or 3 times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

Financial exploitation of senior citizens is one of the fastest growing crimes in America. It is estimated that as many as 5,000,000 seniors are victimized annually. In addition, nursing home residents are the most vulnerable and the least likely to be able to detect or report it.  It is estimated that only one in 100 instances of victimization is typically reported.

Servicing 39 counties when launched in 2008, Project $CAMS currently protects seniors in over 250 nursing homes across 75 counties.  The nursing home facilities participate by identifying residents who are behind in their payments and providing the Attorney General's office with relevant documentation.  Nursing home arrearages as a result of thefts have been as high as $75,000.  In the majority of the cases, the perpetrator was a relative. 

A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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