Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Spartanburg Co. man arrested for neglect, exploitation, and breach of trust of assisted living center residents

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that an Upstate man who owns and runs two assisted living facilities was arrested and charged with neglecting and exploiting vulnerable adults and breach of trust.

On February 14, 2022, the Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU) arrested Darryl Alan Mast, 57, the owner and administrator of assisted living facilities Oakridge Community Care Home #1 and #2, both located in Inman, S.C. 

Mast, of Boiling Springs, S.C., was charged with 10 counts of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085(C)}, two counts of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}, and one count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value of $10,000 or more {16-13-230 (B)(3)}. Mast was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center on February 14^th, 2022. This case was referred to Attorney General Wilson by a concerned citizen and investigated by the SCMFCU with assistance from the Inman Police Department, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department, and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Law Enforcement Unit.

Investigators with the SCMFCU allege that on May 24, 2017, Mast exploited a vulnerable adult resident of Oakridge Community Care Home #1 by improperly and unlawfully allowing a resident to work, manage, and/or provide care to other residents at the facility, thereby placing the victim at a substantial risk of causing physical or mental injury to himself and other residents at the facility.

Arrest warrants further claim that on June 21, 2021, Mast exploited a vulnerable adult by knowingly and willfully making unlawful, unauthorized and/or improper use of the funds and assets of a resident at Oakridge Community Care Home #2 for the benefit of Mast or another person.

Additionally, on June 21, 2021, investigators allege that Mast, being entrusted with the funds of a resident at his facility, did convert these funds to his own use. Specifically, it is claimed that Mast deposited a Social Security check of a vulnerable adult resident in the amount of $66,110.00 into his own account and that Mast then converted the funds to his own personal use, to include the purchase of a personal vehicle.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the 10 charges of ‘Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult’ stem from allegations that on the dates of August 14, 2021 and September 22, 2021 Mast, while acting as a caregiver for the residents of the facility, knowingly and willfully failed to provide care, goods, or supervision to the vulnerable adult residents. Specifically, Mast is believed to have failed to have a facility employee present at all times to provide care and supervision to the residents, presenting a substantial risk of physical or mental injury to these vulnerable adults.  The investigation revealed that on at least two separate occasions local law enforcement responded to Oakridge Community Care Home #2 due to an imminent threat of harm to the residents; in both instances, the residents were left alone without staff present.

Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony, and upon conviction has a penalty of not more than five years imprisonment. Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony, and upon conviction has a penalty of imprisonment of not more than five years and/or a fine not exceeding $5,000. Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value $10,000 or more is a felony, and upon conviction has a penalty of a fine at the discretion of the court or imprisonment of not more than ten years. 

South Carolina’s Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Environmental Control, and Long Term Care Ombudsman are coordinating to ensure continuity of care for vulnerable adult residents impacted by this arrest.

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. 

Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.

The SCMFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $1,927,636 for Federal fiscal year 2022. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $642,544 for FY 2022, is funded by South Carolina.

You can read the warrants here.