Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted an exploitation sweep this week that resulted in the arrest of four individuals who exploited seniors and disabled individuals. The sweep involved three separate investigations based on referrals from the Florida Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services. All defendants used exploited funds for personal benefit, ranging from a down payment on a house to cruise and airline tickets. Authorities arrested the following individuals as a result of the Attorney General’s sweep: Alex Bellamy, Kalonya Bellamy, Willie Mote, Jr., and Robin Stapleton.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “I am proud of the work my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is doing to bring criminals to justice. Scamming and exploiting others are horrible crimes, but to specifically target vulnerable Floridians is absolutely unconscionable. I want to thank all of our law enforcement partners for their work in protecting seniors from exploitation and their quick action in these cases.”
In one of these cases, the Attorney General’s MFCU and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office arrested Alex Bellamy and Kalonya Bellamy. The defendants owned and managed a group home for adults with disabilities. Kalonya, the group home manager, allegedly used more than $10,000 of a victim’s personal funds to pay for Carnival cruise tickets, home furniture, cell phone bills, driver’s license renewal, utilities, vehicle insurance and more. Alex Bellamy, the group home owner, acted as a principal to exploitation by aiding or abetting Kalonya Bellamy. Kalonya faces one felony count of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult of $10,000 or more, one felony count of criminal use of personal identification information of $5,000 or more, and one misdemeanor count of criminal borrowing or pledging resident funds. Alex faces one felony count of principal to exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult of $10,000 or more, and one misdemeanor count of criminal borrowing or pledging resident funds.
In a separate case, the MFCU and the Quincy Police Department arrested Willie Mote, Jr. for embezzling more than $20,000 of a victim’s money on purchases that benefitted himself while serving as the victim’s power of attorney. Mote faces one felony count of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult of $10,000 or more.
Finally, the MFCU and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Robin Stapleton for exploiting two elderly persons while employed as an assistant business office manager at a nursing facility. Stapleton used the victims’ funds to pay off personal debts and to pay for a down payment on a house. Stapleton faces two felony counts of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult, and one felony count of organized scheme to defraud.
The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.
