PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lori Sitler/Janice Fitzsimons

Phone: (302) 577-8314

Pager: (302) 247-1132

Date: June 1, 2005



SUSSEX COUNTY COUPLE CHARGED WITH FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION OF INFIRM ADULT



(Georgetown, DE): Attorney General Jane Brady announced that Bruce and Sandra Bennett of Selbyville, were arrested today and charged with Financial Exploitation of an Infirm Adult and Conspiracy for entering into a mortgage loan agreement with an infirm elder. The victim is an elderly woman who was a former resident of a Roxana rest care facility operated by Sandra Bennett's daughter and son-in-law, Angelia and Douglas Gordon. The Gordons pled guilty in October, 2004 to exploitation and theft charges against the same victim and were ordered to pay $151,000 in restitution to the victim. The State alleges that funds transferred to the elderly victim from the Bennett's bank account to satisfy the Gordon's restitution order have been unlawfully "loaned" back to the Bennett's by the victim who is currently a ward of the Office of the Public Guardian. 

The Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), with the assistance of the Delaware State Police, made the arrest this morning at the defendants' home. The MFCU investigated the alleged financial exploitation of the victim. 

This charge of Financial Exploitation of an Infirm Adult is a felony because the value of the property which was stolen exceeds $50,000. Defendants were both released on $75,000 secured bond. A no contact order with the victim is in place. A Preliminary Hearing has been set in the Court of Common Pleas in Georgetown on June 8, 2005.

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