Print Version

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Franklin County woman was sentenced to more than nine years in prison after a jury convicted her of exploiting an elderly victim in her care. Pearl I. Westmoreland was also found guilty of money laundering and aggravated white collar crime in a case that was investigated by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. She was sentenced to 110 months in prison and must make restitution of more than $218,000 to her victim’s estate.

“This woman abused her position of trust and authority in the worst way, stealing from an elderly victim who had placed his finances in her hands,” said Attorney General McCollum. “He had every right to expect that she would care for him, but instead she used his assets to line her pockets.”

Westmoreland, 79, was arrested in June 2005 after the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit initiated an investigation based on a complaint about the victim's circumstances. The victim, a nursing home resident who previously lived in a trailer park owned by Westmoreland, had signed a document giving Westmoreland power of attorney over his personal assets.

The investigation found that after the victim signed over his power of attorney, Westmoreland transferred $200,000 of his assets into accounts she controlled. She understated those assets when applying for Medicaid benefits on his behalf, then used the money for her own personal gain. Her actions defrauded Florida’s Medicaid program out of more than $61,000.

The case was jointly prosecuted by Attorney General’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office for the Second Judicial Circuit. Today’s sentence was handed down by Second Judicial Circuit Judge William L. Gary. Westmoreland must also reimburse the state for the costs of investigation and prosecution.

A copy of the criminal charges filed against Westmoreland is available here.