Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Lamesha Thompson, a nurse aide from Spartanburg, on charges related to financial exploitation. The arrest was carried out by the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) in collaboration with the Spartanburg Police Department.

Thompson, aged 37, faces one count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, one count of Financial Identity Fraud, and two counts of Forgery involving amounts less than $10,000. She was taken into custody at the Spartanburg County Detention Center on October 24, 2024.

The investigation revealed that between December 12, 2023 and January 2, 2024, Thompson allegedly misused funds belonging to a vulnerable adult while working as a Certified Nurse Aide at White Oak Estates. It is claimed she obtained checking account information and personal checks from the victim and forged two checks for $6,500 and $6,000 each for her own use.

The allegations were reported by the victim's family and White Oak Estates management. Both parties cooperated fully with law enforcement during the investigation. The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.

Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult carries penalties including up to five years in prison or fines up to $5,000 upon conviction. Financial Identity Fraud can result in up to ten years imprisonment or fines determined by the court. Forgery under $10,000 also carries penalties of up to five years imprisonment or court-determined fines.

Attorney General Wilson emphasized that "all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law."

VAMPF operates under federal regulations concerning Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse cases involving individuals in assisted living facilities or nursing homes. Funding for VAMPF includes 75 percent from a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant totaling $2,889,252 for fiscal year 2025; South Carolina provides the remaining funding amounting to $963,084.