CURRAN CHARGES CAREGIVER WITH ABUSING
VULNERABLE, DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED ADULTS

Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Elizabeth Ann Smith a caregiver formerly employed at Progress Unlimited, Inc. has been charged by Criminal Information with three counts of abuse of a vulnerable adult and one count of reckless endangerment for several abuses that occurred in March 2002 while she was employed as a caregiver for two developmentally disabled individuals. Smith, 57, of the 6100 block of Alta Drive in Baltimore was employed as a house manager and was assigned to care for a group of developmentally disabled individuals.

Abuse of a vulnerable adult is a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. Reckless endangerment is a misdemeanor punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. An application for statement of charges is an accusation, and all persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

This case was prosecuted by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, which has authority to prosecute abuse or neglect in facilities that receive Medicaid funds.

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