April 29, 2010

             Lansing, MI - Attorney General Mike Cox today announced criminal charges against six individuals accused of financially exploiting senior citizens.  This brings to 50 the number of individuals charged as 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, 50 criminal cases have been filed. 

               "The Greatest Generation is falling victim to financial scams at an alarming rate," Cox said.  "By teaming with federal law enforcement, my office is stopping opportunistic thieves from exploiting our parents and grandparents."

                Charges announced today include:

• Darlene Faye Wagner of Allegan, accused of embezzling her father's Social Security and pension funds for her own use for over a year.  Her father was a nursing home resident in the Allegan area. 

  • One count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 or more but less than $20,000), 57th     District Court,   Allegan.  Maximum penalty of five years and/or $10,000 or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

   

• Wayne Carey Watkins , accused of embezzling his mother's Social Security funds for his own use for over a year.  His mother was a resident in a Lapeer area nursing home. 

• One count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 or more but less than $20,000), 71-A District Court, Lapeer.  Maximum penalty of five years and/or $10,000, or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

 

• Shenile Deshawn Grady of Flint , accused of embezzling her father's Social Security monies over the course of a year for her own use.  Her father is a resident of a Flint area nursing home.

  • One count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 or more but less than $20,000), 68th District Court, Flint.  Maximum penalty of five years and/or $10,000, or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

   

• Frances Ella Wesolowski of Luther , accused of embezzling her mother's Social Security monies for over two years for her own use.  Her mother was a resident of a Big Rapids area nursing home.

  • One count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 but less than $20,000), 77th District Court, Big Rapids.  Maximum penalty of five years and/or $10,000, or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater. 

   

• James Patrick Warren of Pickford , accused of embezzling the Social Security, investment and pension income of his aunt.  His aunt was a resident of a nursing home in the Sault Ste. Marie area.

  • One count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 but less than $20,000), 91st District Court, Sault Ste. Marie.  Maximum penalty of five years and/or $10,000, or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater.

   

• Lillian Kay Howell-Bell of Grand Rapids , accused of embezzling her great aunt's Social Security.  Her great  aunt was a resident of a Grand Rapids area nursing home. 

  • One count of Embezzlement from a Vulnerable Adult ($1,000 but less than $20,000) and two counts of Medicaid fraud, 63-2 District Court, Grand Rapids.  Embezzlement has a maximum penalty of 5 years and/or $10,000, or three times the value of the money or property involved, whichever is greater.  Medicaid fraud has a maximum penalty of four years and/or $50,000 .

   

            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 the exploitation.  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 351 nursing homes across 82 counties.  To date, 349 investigations have been opened and 71 remain active.  By the end of this year, all 420 nursing homes in all 83 counties will be covered.  Individual losses uncovered by investigators have been as high as $200,000.

            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 until and unless proven guilty.

    Howell-Bell                      Watkins                       Wesolowski

-30-