DULUTH — A caregiver who was hired to provide in-home services fraudulently charged approximately $11,000 to a client’s bank card to pay for tuition and other online purchases, the Minnesota Department of Health concluded in its recent investigation.
Henry Opoku Ware, of Duluth, has been charged with financial transaction card fraud and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult’s property in relation to the case, according to the Duluth Police Department records. The Aug. 12 incident is under active investigation, according to a release of public data.
The state agency found substantiated claims of financial exploitation toward a vulnerable adult under the care of
Cornerstone Caregiving
after
concluding its investigation
of the Duluth-based home care provider Oct. 30.
The client’s diagnosis included blindness and fall risks, and Cornerstone was hired to assist with daily services.
“Cornerstone Caregiving takes any allegation involving client safety or financial integrity with the utmost seriousness,” the company said in a statement. “In addition to an internal review and terminating the caregiver, Cornerstone fully cooperated with the state’s audit, and the office was found to be in substantial compliance. Additionally, Cornerstone took all appropriate steps to ensure the client did not sustain any financial loss. We look forward to continuing to serve Duluth’s seniors with compassion and care.”
During an interview with investigators, the client stated the Cornerstone employee had been to her home to provide services and asked “uncomfortable questions” that the client felt were “inappropriate.”
Family members discovered that the client’s bank card was missing, and five fraudulent transactions appeared on the bank statement. Cornerstone was notified, and a police report was filed.
At the time Cornerstone was alerted to the theft incident, the caregiver’s employment had ended for other reasons, home care leadership told investigators.
According to the report, “Cornerstone provided documentation to law enforcement that an institute of higher learning had verified the former employee had used the bank card for education expenses. Financial records also indicated fraudulent bank charges were made payable to the employee’s educational institution from the client’s bank account.”
Home care leadership told the investigator that the client’s money was returned by the educational institute.
According to the report, police records indicated that law enforcement planned to pursue charges against the caregiver, who was unable to be located at that time. Home care leadership told investigators that the employee went “missing in action” upon being notified of the investigation.
Although the client told investigators she was “fearful of the alleged perpetrator,” she continued to employ the home care agency and had no complaints about the service provided by the current agency staff.
Brielle Bredsten is a business and health care industry reporter for the Duluth News Tribune.
Send her story tips, feedback or just say hi at bbredsten@duluthnews.com.
