Attorney General Alan Wilson announces man with power of attorney charged with stealing more than $10,000 from nursing home 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 Brian Leslie Liles, 49, of Gaffney, S.C. 

Liles faces the following charges:

• One count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {§ 43-35-85(D)}
• One count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value $10,000 or more {§ 16-13-0230}

Liles was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center on September 10, 2026.

An investigation conducted by VAMPF determined that Liles knowingly and willfully exploited a vulnerable adult. The alleged exploitation occurred between July 14, 2025, and November 5, 2025.

Investigators report that Liles knowingly and willfully made unlawful, unauthorized, or improper use of the funds and assets belonging to a vulnerable adult for his own profit or advantage. According to the investigation, Liles—who had been entrusted with power of attorney for the victim—converted the victim’s funds and assets to his personal use, permanently depriving the victim of those resources. Investigators further allege that Liles diverted more than $10,000 of the victim’s funds through electronic transfers and checks drawn from the victim’s bank account.

At the time of the alleged misconduct, the victim lived in a skilled nursing facility and qualified as a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law.

 South Carolina Offenses and Penalties:

• Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult – Felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 5 years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.
• Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value $10,000 or more – Felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or a fine at the discretion of the court.

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

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 that 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 $2,964,287 for federal fiscal year 2026. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $988,096 for FFY 2026, is funded by South Carolina.