Palmetto State News

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Carolyn Coyle, a 70-year-old resident of Walhalla, SC. Coyle faces charges for one count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult and one count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent. The charges involve amounts valued between $2,000 and $10,000. She was detained at the Oconee County Detention Center on November 1, 2024.

The investigation by the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department revealed that Coyle allegedly misused funds belonging to a vulnerable adult residing at Seneca Health and Rehabilitation Center from October 5, 2023, to February 5, 2024. These allegations were brought to law enforcement's attention by the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Attorney General Wilson stated that this case would be prosecuted by his office. He emphasized that "all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law."

Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is classified as a felony in South Carolina. If convicted, it carries penalties including up to five years in prison or fines up to $5,000. Similarly, Breach of Trust with fraudulent intent also holds felony status with potential penalties up to five years imprisonment or fines determined by the court.

The VAMPF unit has jurisdiction over Medicaid provider fraud cases as well as abuse and neglect cases involving Medicaid beneficiaries in various settings. The unit receives significant funding from federal sources—75 percent from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services amounting to $2,889,252 for fiscal year 2025—with additional state funding covering the remaining costs.