Attorney General Wins Conviction Against Receptionist For Taking Trust Funds From Retiree

WACO, December 2, 2005 - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has successfully prosecuted a case with the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office to convict a retirement home receptionist of stealing trust funds belonging to a resident.

Sharel Randolph Carmichael, 39, must repay almost $3,000 she diverted from the trust fund of a resident at the Medicaid-funded Ridgecrest Retirement Center, plus she must pay $7,300 in investigative costs to the Attorney General’s Office.

“Those who are entrusted with the care of seniors should be beyond reproach, but sadly there are those in the health care system who instead prey on the vulnerable,” said Attorney General Abbott. “I will never tolerate such abuses on my watch.”

Carmichael was sentenced in November to five years probation and 300 hours of community service for stealing cash payments of $2,935 that were intended for the trust fund. She was indicted on charges of misapplication of fiduciary property and theft on June 8.

The case was prosecuted by McLennan County Assistant District Attorney Charissa Sloan.