Oconee Co. woman arrested for alleged fraud and exploitation of assisted living patient

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announces that his office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU) has arrested Chanda L. Sargent, 43 years old, of Salem, S.C. on 11 counts of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)} and one count of Financial Transaction Card Fraud {16-14-60(b)(1)(2)}. Sargent was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center on December 12, 2022.

An SCMFCU investigation revealed that, beginning in January 2022, Sargent converted a total of $309,747.90 of the victim’s funds to her own use. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at an assisted living facility in Seneca during the time of the alleged misconduct. Sargent is alleged, between January 19, 2022 and January 31, 2022, to have unlawfully and without consent used the victim’s debit card to obtain money, goods and services totaling $5,747.90. She later is alleged, between February 14, 2022 and June 30, 2022, to have used her position as the victim’s power of attorney to willfully make, with fraudulent intent, unlawful and improper use of the victim’s funds and assets totaling $304,000.00.

This case was referred to the SCMFCU for investigation by the Appalachian Council of Governments’ Long Term Care Ombudsman. It will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of not more than five years in prison and/or a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars. Financial Transaction Card Fraud is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine between three and five thousand dollars, or both.

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.