Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Florence woman guilty of fraud and exploiting two assisted living residents

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that on December 5, 2022, Regan Simone Carter, 57 years old, of Florence, SC, pleaded guilty in Florence County to two counts of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)} and two counts of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value of $10,000 or more {16-13-230 (B)(3)}.  Carter was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended to five years of probation for Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, and seven years in prison, suspended to five years of probation for Breach of Trust. Carter was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $30,000.

An SCMFCU investigation revealed that between the dates of September 1, 2018, and November 30, 2021, Carter, as a power of attorney for the two victims, willfully made, with fraudulent intent, unlawful and improper use of the victims’ funds and assets. During the time of the alleged misconduct, both victims, vulnerable adults under South Carolina law, resided at Elmcroft Assisted Living in Florence, who referred this matter to the AG for investigation.

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. 

The SCMFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,318,568 for federal fiscal year 2023. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $772,852 for FFY 2023, is funded by South Carolina.