Attorney General Alan Wilson announces arrest of three people accused of stealing from Sumter assisted living resident

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU) has arrested Sonya D. Bradley (58 years old), Ronnie M. June (33 years old), and Antonio K. Shad (37 years old), all from Sumter, SC on one count each of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)} and one count of Criminal Conspiracy {16-13-0510(B)}. June was charged with an additional count of Financial Transactions Card Fraud, value more than $500 in a six-month period. Bradley and Shad were charged with Financial Transaction Card Fraud, value less than $500 in a six-month period. All three defendants were booked into the Sumter County Detention Center on April 25, 2024.

A joint investigation by the SCMFCU and the Sumter Police Department revealed that, between July 20, 2023 and October 1, 2023, Bradley, June, and Shad knowingly conspired together to make unlawful and unauthorized use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult victim. Specifically, it is alleged that the three defendants, with intent to defraud, obtained and used the victim’s debit card information to obtain money, goods, or services without the consent of the victim. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at Carriage House/Patriot Living, an assisted living facility, at the time of the alleged misconduct.

This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. 

Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Financial Transaction Card Fraud, value more than $500 in a six-month period is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine between $3,000 and $5,000, or both.  Financial Transaction Card Fraud, value less than $500 in a six-month period is a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to one year in prison, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both. Criminal Conspiracy is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

Pursuant to federal regulations, the SCMFCU has authority over Medicaid provider fraud; abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting; and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. 

Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

The SCMFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,698,638 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $899,546 for FFY 2024, is funded by South Carolina.