Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Spartanburg nurse aide charged with stealing from vulnerable adult

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Lamesha Thompson, 37 years old, of Spartanburg, S.C., for one count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}, one count of Financial Identity Fraud {16-13-0510(B)} and two counts of Forgery, value less than $10,000 {16-13-0010(A)}. Thompson was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center on October 24, 2024.

An investigation by VAMPF and the Spartanburg Police Department revealed that, between December 12, 2023 and January 2, 2024, Thompson is alleged to have knowingly made unlawful and unauthorized use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Specifically, it is alleged that Thompson, while employed as a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) at White Oak Estates, obtained checking account information and personal checks belonging to the victim. Investigators allege that Thompson then forged two of the victim’s checks in the amounts of $6,500 and $6,000 and then deposited them into her own personal bank account. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at White Oak Estates in Spartanburg at the time of the alleged misconduct. 

These allegations were referred to law enforcement by the victim’s family and White Oak Estates, who fully cooperated with investigators. 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. Financial Identity Fraud 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 less than $10,000, 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.

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.