Lexington woman arrested for exploitation of vulnerable adult and fraud

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that Karyn Howard, 46 years old, of Lexington, S.C. 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)). Howard was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center on September 10, 2021.

The South Carolina Attorney General Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU) investigated this case based on a referral made on the victim’s behalf. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, was a resident at Lexington Extended Care at the time of the alleged misconduct. Howard was serving as the victim’s power of attorney at the time. Howard is accused of making multiple unauthorized and improper banking transactions from the victim’s bank accounts starting in 2017 and continuing until 2021, and using the money for her benefit and not that of the victim.

Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony with a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, and possible payment of restitution. Breach of Trust with fraudulent intent, value of $10,000 or more is also a felony with a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court.

The SCMFCU will be prosecuting both cases 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.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.