(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Cecil Williamson, Jr., 70, of Darlington, has been arrested for ‘Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult’ {43-35-0085 (D)} and ‘Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value of $10,000 or more’ {16-13-230 (B)(3)}. Williamson was arrested and booked into the Darlington County Detention Center on August 31st by investigators with the Attorney General’s Office.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU) investigated this case after receiving a referral from the facility in which the victim resides. It is alleged that Williamson, as the victim’s power-of-attorney, knowingly and willfully made unlawful, unauthorized, and improper use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult and that Williamson financially exploited the victim who was a resident at Oakhaven Nursing Center in Darlington at the time. Williamson is accused of making multiple unauthorized and improper banking transactions from the victim’s bank accounts, selling the victim’s property and using other funds of the victim for his own personal benefit.
The Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult charge is a felony with a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine up to $5,000 or both, along with restitution. The Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value of $10,000 or more charge is also a felony with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine in the discretion of the court.
The SCMFCU will be prosecuting this case under its patient abuse jurisdiction, which covers abuse, neglect and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living or nursing home facilities. Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
The South Carolina MFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $1,478,492 for Federal fiscal year 2021. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $492,826 for FY 2021, is funded by South Carolina.
