Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Spartanburg woman charged with stealing more than $10,000 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 Cher Deneane Cantrell, 58 years old, of Spartanburg, S.C. 

Cantrell 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 (§ 16-13-230(A))

Cantrell was booked into the Spartanburg County Detention Center on December 18, 2025.

An investigation conducted by VAMPF uncovered allegations that Cher Cantrell misused her authority as power of attorney for a vulnerable adult. Specifically, between March 11, 2024, and July 24, 2024, Cantrell is accused of misappropriating approximately $10,292.56 from the victim's funds, diverting the money for her own personal use and benefit, while allegedly intending to permanently deprive the victim of those resources.

Throughout the entire timeframe of these alleged offenses, the victim—classified as a vulnerable adult under the provisions of South Carolina law—resided at Magnolia Manor, an assisted living facility located in Inman, South Carolina.

South Carolina Felony 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 in 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 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.