Woman took $75,000 from vulnerable adult for her personal use, SC Attorney general says
A Midlands woman was recently arrested on multiple charges after $75,000 was stolen from a vulnerable adult, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said Monday in a news release.
On Jan. 3, Camden resident Jannie C. Johnson was charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult and breach of trust with fraudulent intent (value $10,000 or more), according to the release.
The 74-year-old Johnson had power of attorney for a resident at Wildewood Downs Assisted Living Facility in Columbia, who was called a vulnerable adult by the S.C. Attorney General’s Office. The victim lived at the retirement home when the crimes occurred, according to the release. There was no word if the victim is still a resident at the Columbia facility.
Between June 22, 2023, and March 21, 2024, Johnson is accused of knowingly making “unlawful and unauthorized use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult,” the S.C. Attorney General’s Office said.
Johnson converted $75,000 of the victim’s money for her own personal use, according to the release. Information about what happened to the money was not available.
Johnson was booked into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center when she was arrested, and was released Monday after posting a $50,000 bond, Richland County court records show.
The case was investigated by the the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit in the S.C. Attorney General’s Office, as well as the Sumter Police Department, according to the release. Johnson will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
If convicted on the felony exploitation of a vulnerable adult charge, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine, while the felony breach of trust charge is carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court, according to South Carolina law.
Information about possible restitution was not available.
Johnson is scheduled to return to court on March 28, judicial records show.
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This story was originally published January 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM with the headline "Woman took $75,000 from vulnerable adult for her personal use, SC Attorney general says."
