Attorney General Alan Wilson announces arrest of Easley woman accused of stealing from assisted living facility resident

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Christa Porter Bennett, 51 years old, of Easley, S.C., for one count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)} and one count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 {16-13-0230(A)}. Bennett was booked into the Greenville County Detention Center on June 28, 2024.

An investigation by the VAMPF unit revealed that, between June 24, 2022 and December 31, 2023, Bennett knowingly made unlawful and unauthorized use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Specifically, it is alleged that Bennett, while being entrusted as the victim’s conservator, converted funds and assets valued between $2,000 and $10,000 of the victim’s money to her own personal use. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at The Residences at Greer, an assisted living facility, at the time of the alleged misconduct. 

The Residences at Greer referred the misconduct allegation to the VAMPF unit. 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. Breach of Trust value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court.

Pursuant to federal regulations, the VAMPF unit 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 VAMPF unit 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.