November 22, 2009

Georgia CNA Convicted to Identity Theft and Elder Abuse

Tamera%20Smith.jpg
Tamera Smith


We discussed Tamera Smith and the crimes she committed at Tara Nursing Home in Thunderbolt, Georgia in previous blogs. Smith, along with her cousin, was accused of using personal information of residents and employees of Tara Nursing Home and using it to obtain computers, digital cameras, cell phones, and charge accounts for her personal use.

Smith pleaded guilty to over thirty counts of identity fraud, computer thefts, and elder abuse. She was sentenced to six years, five of which she will spend in prison.

The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit us on our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.

September 19, 2009

Georgia Nursing Home Manager To Plead Guilty to Drug Theft

Wayne Dawn, Jr., manager of the Pleasant Valley Assisted Living Center in Dalton, Georgia, has opted to plead guilty to drug theft. Dawn had previously plead "not guilty" to elder abuse charges and multiple counts of drug possession.

Dawn was arrested in October 2008 and charged with six felony counts of cruelty to a person 65 or older, six misdemeanor counts of theft by taking, six misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct, three counts of felony possession of hydrocodone, one felony count of possession of darvocet, and two felony counts of possession of tramodol. Allegedly, Dawn took drugs belonging to residents and replaced them with other drugs.

The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit us on our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.

February 25, 2009

Nursing Home Identity Thieves Cannot Be Charged With Elder Abuse

Tamara%20Smith.jpg Tamara Smith


We discussed nursing home identity thieves in our previous blog. Cousins Tamara Smith and Teresa Robbins reportedly stole the identities of 43 people, approximately half of whom were residents of Tara Nursing Home in Thunderbolt, Georgia. The cousins faced approximately 101 charges ranging from identity theft to fraud. Unfortunately, a loophole in the law will allow 26 of those charges to be dropped. Georgia law identifies an elder person as a person 65 years of age or older that is not a resident of a long term care facility. Therefore, 26 charges must be dropped. Captain James Pierce of the Thunderbolt Police Department intends to go through each date the perpetrators used someone's personal information either to order credit cards or purchase cell phones and determine whether or not that victim was a resident of a nursing home. Seventy-five charges will remain against the two for using the victim's personal information to purchase computers, cell phones, and open credit cards.

February 3, 2009

Georgia Nursing Home Worker Arrested for Theft

Yvonne%20Winslow.jpg Yvonne Winslow


Yvonnne Winslow, a former nursing home worker at Savannah Specialty Care Center in Savannah, Georgia, sits in jail facing six felony charges, including elderly abuse. Winslow alleged took a debit card belonging to Ron and Charlotte Miller from their room and used it at area businesses. She has admitted her involvement to investigating authorities.

January 13, 2009

Georgia CNA Accused of Identity Theft

Tamara%20Smith.jpg
Tamara Smith


Tamara Smith sits in jail accused of stealing the identities of at least 43 nursing home residents. Smith accessed the personal information of several nursing residents through her former job of certified nursing assistant at Tara Nursing Home in Thunderbolt, Georgia. In fact, over half of her victims are current or former residents of the facility, who range in age from 60 to 100. The residents' personal information was used to buy computers, cell phones, and open credit card accounts.

A single family's complaint 15 months ago triggered the investigation. The number of victims continues to grow and more arrests are expected. It is the largest case of identity theft ever seen in Thunderbolt.

The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us at 1 (888) 317-2525 or visit us at www.nursinghomejustice.com.