Attorney General Moody Announces Arrest of Skilled Nursing Facility Office Manager for Grand Theft

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Orange Park Police Department are announcing the arrest of the former office manager of a nursing and rehab facility for grand theft. Priscilla M. Sluder is accused of stealing nearly $30,000 from resident trust fund accounts for personal benefit.

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Florida seniors should not have to worry about their personal funds being stolen, especially from a manager of a nursing facility who is supposed to be looking out for them. The defendant’s actions are shameful, and I am grateful for my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit stopping this grand theft.”

Sluder worked as an assistant business office manager for Orange Park Nursing LLC d/b/a The Palms Nursing and Rehab at Orange Park—a 120-bed skilled nursing facility. The Palms provides both short-term treatment and long-term care through comprehensive medical services, 24-hour skilled nursing care and programs in both rehabilitation and restorative care. According to the investigation, Sluder took cash from the Patient Trust Fund, an account set up for residents to access cash to purchase personal items. The investigation revealed Sluder stole funds for more than two years totaling $29,504 from at least 40 patients. The Palms reimbursed all of the patients’ accounts for the losses and terminated Sluder.

Sluder faces one count of grand theft $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, a second-degree felony. Attorney General Moody’s MFCU will prosecute the case through an agreement with the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

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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. From January 2019 to the present, Attorney General Moody’s MFCU has obtained more than $180 million in settlements and judgments.

The Florida MFCU is funded through a grant totaling $30,219,404 for Federal Fiscal Year 2023, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General. The Federal Share of these funds is 75% totaling $22,664,556. The State Matching Share of these funds is 25% totaling $7,554,848 and is funded by Florida.