NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Todd Hallidy

Phone: (302) 577-8314

Date: June 12, 2001

NEWARK WOMAN CHARGED IN FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION CASE

(Wilmington, DE) - The Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse units of the Delaware Department of Justice today arrested a 45 year old Newark woman as part of an investigation into the alleged exploitation of an 81 year old male resident of "Arbors at New Castle," a long-term care facility located at 32 Buena Vista Drive. It was reported that Martha J. Russo (DOB 3/27/56), of 80 Auckland Dr., Newark, DE, the daughter of the resident, was depleting the assets of her father while he was a patient at the facility. From January 1999 through present, Ms. Russo was suspected of diverting her father's social security benefits and his pension benefits to her own use. It is further alleged that in August of 2000, the father was deprived of the value of his home when Ms. Russo allowed the mortgage to foreclose. Total monetary loss to the father is estimated to be in excess of $150,000.00.

With the assistance of detectives from Delaware State Police, Troop 2, the defendant was arrested without incident on Tuesday, June 12, 2001 at her place of employment and charged with the above listed offenses. Martha Russo was processed and arraigned at Magistrate Court 11 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women's Correctional Institution, New Castle on $10,000 secured bail. The charges are pending trial in New Castle County Superior Court. The charges are listed as follows: Theft of Property over $100,000, felony, 11/841-a;

Theft of Property over $1000 and victim is over 60 yrs of age, felony 11/841-b

Exploitation of resources over $500 of an Infirm Adult, felony, 31/3913

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