Lexington, SC 02/11/2025 - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson recently announced that the Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit of his office has arrested John Lemuel Morrell Jr for the exploitation of a vulnerable adult and Grand Larceny. Lemuel, a 60-year-old Lexington County, South Carolina resident, was booked into the county’s detention center on Friday, January 17, 2025.
According to reports from the Attorney General’s office, John Lemuel Morrell is accused of accessing the victim’s bank account details and credit card accounts and obtaining $143,413.79 of the victim’s money for his own use. Authorities relay that these acts took place between October 2019 and April 2024.
The victim, who is considered a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, was living at the Lexington Medical Center Extended Care during the period of the theft. Exploiting a vulnerable adult is a felony, and according to South Carolina laws, anyone who willfully and knowingly exploits a vulnerable adult can be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned for up to five years, or handed both penalties. Courts may also require restitution to the victims when this happens.
In this situation, exploitation involves an improper or unauthorized use of a vulnerable adult’s assets, funds, or property for personal gain. These penalties highlight the state’s seriousness in protecting vulnerable adults from financial exploitation and preventing them from being taken advantage of.
On the other hand, Grand Larceny, which involves a property valued at $10,000 or more, is also a felony offense in South Carolina. If convicted, offenders face up to ten years in prison and fines determined by the court. The court may also require the offender to pay restitution to the victim of the crime. Comparatively, the state has a pretty stringent stance against theft.
While reports indicate that John Lemuel Morrell Jr was out of jail the next morning of Saturday, January 18, 2025, there was no available information about his bond. However, the reports indicate that the case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office.
These kinds of cases have become more common over time, with most perpetrators targeting vulnerable adults and senior citizens. John Lemuel Morrell’s case points to perpetrators using more sophisticated ways to access victims’ finances, often through phishing scams, unauthorized account access, and even credit card skimming.
Through these methods, perpetrators drain funds without the victim’s awareness, often resulting in significant losses before the thefts are even detected. While laws are in place to prevent these occurrences, preventive measures, such as the use of a secure credit card scanner and proper authentication, can help reduce their occurrence.
Families and caregivers must also remain vigilant about their loved ones’ finances, monitoring their financial activity and setting up alerts for their accounts. They must also ensure that they have the necessary legalities in place.
Financial institutions also play huge roles in preventing the exploitation of vulnerable people by implementing improved security measures, such as flagging unusual transactions. While legal penalties can help deter such occurrences, proactive monitoring, strong financial security measures, and community awareness can prevent criminals from committing these crimes.
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