Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Greer women charged with exploiting vulnerable adult, fraud, and other charges

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Caitlyn Danielle Morgan, 32 years old, of Greer, S.C., and Debra Jones Howard, 69 years old, of Greer, S.C. Morgan was charged with one count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}, one count of Forgery, value $10,000 or more {16-13-0010(A)}, one count of Criminal Conspiracy {16-17-0410}, and two counts of Medical Assistance Provider Fraud {43-07-0060}. Howard was charged with one count of Forgery, value less than $10,000 {16-13-0010(A)}, one count of Criminal Conspiracy {16-17-0410}, and one count of Medical Assistance Provider Fraud {43-07-0060}.

An investigation by VAMPF alleges that, between January 27, 2021 and December 19, 2024, Morgan and Howard conspired together to make or cause to be made false claims for payment to South Carolina’s Medicaid program. Specifically, it is alleged that Morgan, as a personal care attendant employed at various times by Care Givers on Demand and the Charles Lea Center, signed and submitted false time sheets indicating that she had rendered care to a Medicaid beneficiary when she had not. It is further alleged that Morgan caused or required a vulnerable adult to engage in activity or labor which is improper, unlawful, or against the reasonable and rational wishes of a vulnerable adult by submitting the false timesheets with the victim’s knowledge for services never rendered.

Howard is alleged to have conspired with Morgan by signing off on Morgan’s false timesheets indicating that she had witnessed Morgan rendering care.

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. Conspiracy is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000. Forgery, value $10,000 or more, is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine at the discretion of the court, or both. Forgery, value $10,000 or less, is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine at the discretion of the court, or both. Medical Assistance Provider Fraud is a class A misdemeanor and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000.   

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.