Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Anderson man charged with stealing almost $120,000 from vulnerable adult

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Malcolm Andrew Kidd, 42 years old, of Anderson, S.C. on one count of  Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}, one count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value $10,000 or more {16-13-0230(A)}, and three counts of Financial Transaction Card Fraud, value more than $500 in a six-month period. Kidd was booked into the Anderson County Detention Center on January 30, 2025.

An investigation by VAMPF revealed that, between August 18, 2022 and August 22, 2024, Kidd is alleged to have knowingly made unlawful and unauthorized use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Specifically, it is alleged that Kidd, while entrusted as the victim’s power of attorney, converted $119,825.58 of the victim’s funds for his own personal use. It is further alleged that Kidd, between the dates of October 21, 2022 and July 29, 2024, obtained the victim’s debit card to obtain money, goods, or services without the consent or knowledge of the victim. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at NHC Healthcare Anderson and Maples at Austin Place in Honea Path at the time of the alleged misconduct. 

This case was referred to VAMPF by a concerned citizen and 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. Breach of Trust, value $10,000 or more, is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court. 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 of not less than $3,000, or both. 

Pursuant to federal regulations, VAMPF 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 South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina.