South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has announced the arrest of Lewis Hyder, a 77-year-old resident of Landrum, S.C. Hyder was charged with several offenses, including Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, and Insurance Fraud. These charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the state’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
The investigation revealed that between March 1 and June 7, 2023, in Greenville County, Hyder allegedly misused the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Hyder, acting as the victim’s power of attorney, is accused of fraudulently converting the victim’s assets for personal use. Additionally, Hyder allegedly forged a change of beneficiary form to make himself the primary beneficiary of a $10,000 life insurance policy and forged the victim’s signature on a certificate of title transfer for a 2001 Chevrolet Camaro. The victim was residing at The Citadel at Myers Park in Charlotte, N.C., during this period.
The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Insurance. The offenses Hyder faces carry potential penalties that include prison time and fines. For instance, the exploitation of a vulnerable adult can result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Other charges carry penalties ranging up to 10 years in prison.
Alan Wilson underlined the presumption of innocence for all defendants until proven guilty in court.
The VAMPF unit, responsible for investigating such fraud and abuse cases, is primarily funded by federal grants, comprising 75 percent from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and 25 percent from South Carolina.
