Attorney General Alan Wilson announces Upstate woman charged with fraud and 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 Malla M. Hart, 55 years old, of Boiling Springs, S.C., on one count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)}, one count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value $10,000 or more {16-13-0230(A)} and two counts of Forgery, value less than $10,000. Hart was booked into the Spartanburg Detention Center on September 13, 2024.

An investigation by VAMPF revealed that, between March 21, 2022 and May 13, 2023, Hart knowingly made unlawful and unauthorized use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Specifically, it is alleged that Hart, while being entrusted with the victim’s funds, converted these funds and assets for her own personal use. It is also alleged that Hart, knowingly and willfully, forged the victim’s signature on online applications for credit cards through Venmo and Credit One. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at Lakewood Senior Living, an assisted living facility in Boiling Springs, at the time of the alleged misconduct. 

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. Breach of Trust value more than $10,000 is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court. Forgery, value less than $10,000 is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court.

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 $2,698,638 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $899,546 for FFY 2024, is funded by South Carolina.