April 13, 2005 Media Contact: Jenn Meale Phone: (850) 245-0150

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TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist and Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle today announced the arrest of a home health aide employed at Breezy Acres, an assisted living facility located in Opa Locka. The woman allegedly stole the identity of an elderly resident of the facility and used that information to run up over $3,500 in fraudulent credit card charges.

Breezy Acres alerted the Attorney General's Office that Judith H. Wright, 34, of Hollywood, appeared to be using her position of trust as a home health aide to exploit an 89-year-old resident of the facility. An investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that Wright opened credit card accounts using the resident's identity without the woman's knowledge or consent. She then used the credit cards to buy herself such things as jewelry, furniture and clothing. Wright also wrote checks to herself from a bank account belonging to the victim and diverted the woman's mail from the facility to her own home address.

"Exploiting the elderly, especially those depending on others for their care, is shameful," said Crist. "This outrageous conduct demands justice for the victim."

Wright is charged with one count of exploitation of the elderly, one count of criminal use of personal identification, two counts of forgery and two counts of grand theft. If convicted on all charges, she could face a maximum of 30 years in state prison and up to $30,000 in fines.

The case will be prosecuted by the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office.