Attorney General Alan Wilson announces two Columbia women 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 Shakedda Monike Stokes, 44 years old, and Lanautica Lashay Major, 27 years old, both of Columbia, S.C.  Major and Stokes were charged with Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}, Crimes against a Federally Chartered or Insured Financial Institution {34-03-0110(A)}, Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretenses, value more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 {16-13-240}, and Criminal Conspiracy {16-17-0410}. Major and Stokes were both booked into the Lexington County Detention Center on October 1, 2025, and October 2, 2025, respectively.

A joint investigation by VAMPF and the Lexington Police Department revealed that, between December 1, 2024, and January 21, 2025, Major and Stokes knowingly conspired to make unlawful and unauthorized use of funds and assets of a vulnerable adult victim. Major, employed as a caregiver at Oakleaf Village in Lexington, S.C., and Stokes are accused of unauthorized use of the victim’s credit card to conduct fraudulent financial transactions. They allegedly obtained the victim’s bank account information and misused funds held by First Citizens Bank, a federally chartered institution, through false pretenses or misrepresentations, intending to defraud the victim for personal gain. The victim, classified as a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at Oakleaf Village during the alleged misconduct. 

Oakleaf Village reported the issue to law enforcement and fully cooperated with the investigation. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

Charges and Penalties:

• Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult: Felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $5,000.
• Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretenses (value between $2,000 and $10,000): Felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a fine at the court’s discretion.
• Criminal Conspiracy: Felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a fine up to $5,000.
• Crimes against a Federally Chartered or Insured Financial Institution: Felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine up to $10,000.

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