From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — A former employee of the Oak Landing Assisted Living Facility is facing charges in connection to embezzlement, according to U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town.
Lisa Talton Wells Daugherty, 52, of Rainbow City, a former Unit Coordinator at the facility in Atalla, is charged with one count each of wire fraud, money laundering, filing a false tax return, and theft of government property. The filing in U.S. District Court alleges that while Daugherty obtained power of attorney from the victim. The filing states that Daugherty then arranged for the victim to become a resident of Oak Landing. Beginning in January 2017, after the victim became a resident of Oak Landing, investigators said Daugherty used the power of attorney to gain access to the victim’s assets and transfer them to herself.
In addition, Daugherty is charged with embezzling the victim’s Social Security benefits and filing a false tax return. The information seeks forfeiture of a number of assets seized from Daugherty, including cash and automobiles.
The maximum penalties for the charged crimes include the following: Wire Fraud, 20 years and a fine of not more than $250,000 or twice the gross gain; Money Laundering, 10 years and a fine of not more than $250,000 or twice the amount of criminally derived property involved in the transaction; Filing a False Tax Return, 3 years and a fine of not more than $100,000; and Theft of Government Property, 10 years and a fine of not more than $250,000.
The United States Secret Service, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Davis Barlow is prosecuting.
An information contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
