OWNER OF ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY CHARGED WITH THEFT FROM RESIDENT

Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. announced today that Lynette Dudley Richardson, an owner of an assisted living facility in Baltimore County, was charged by the Grand Jury for Baltimore County in a ten-count indictment in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County on theft and embezzlement charges. The indictment charges that Richardson, 37, of 5806 Prince George Street, Gwynn Oak, Maryland, from October 22, 2004 through November 27, 2004, stole money from Martha Galey, who was living at Richardson’s assisted living facility. In addition, the embezzlement charges allege that Richardson used Ms. Galey’s property for purposes not in the due and lawful execution of the trust responsibility she owed to Ms. Galey. Richardson is charged in five theft counts, two misdemeanors and three felonies, and five embezzlement counts for amounts ranging from $40.00 to $1,700.00. The total alleged loss to Ms. Galey is more than $4,000 during a five-week period.

An indictment is an accusation and all persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Felony Theft is punishable by up to 15 years incarceration and a fine up to $25,000.00. Misdemeanor Theft is punishable by up to 18 months incarceration and a fine up to $500. Embezzlement is a misdemeanor and is punishable by a term of imprisonment for not less than one year and not exceeding five years.

The case is being prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office, which has jurisdiction to prosecute crimes arising out of assisted living facilities.