TRENTON
- Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced
that a certified nursing assistant who worked
at a Livingston nursing home was charged this
morning for allegedly conspiring to take a
photograph of an elderly resident’s
genitalia and have the photograph posted on
Facebook. Her friend, and co-defendant, was
charged yesterday (March 14) in the alleged
scheme.
Helien
Williams, 26, and Michele Walker, 21, both
of Newark, were charged via a complaint
summons with third-degree invasion of privacy
and third-degree conspiracy.
"The
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is not only
committed to investigating and prosecuting
Medicaid fraud but also to protecting the
dignity of the beneficiaries which the program
serves, who are often the most vulnerable
members of our population,” Acting
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi
said. “No one should be made to suffer
humiliation, particularly at the hands of
someone responsible for his or her care."
It
is alleged that Williams, a certified nursing
assistant who worked at CareOne at Livingston
at the time of the alleged crime, took a
photograph with her cell phone of an elderly
resident’s genitalia and sent the
photo to Walker. Walker allegedly then posted
the photograph on her Facebook page. Williams
was terminated from her position at CareOne
at Livingston as a result of the alleged
incident.
Deputy
Attorney General Dolores Blackburn, Sgt.
Patricia Yellen and Detective Ronald Allen
were assigned to the investigation. Acting
Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Chillemi thanked
CareOne at Livingston as well as the Livingston
Police Department for their assistance in
the investigation. He also thanked CareOne
at Livingston for referring the matter to
the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
The
complaint is merely an accusation and defendants
are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Third-degree
crimes carry a maximum sentence of five
years in state prison and a criminal fine
of $15,000. Because the charges are indictable
offenses, the case will be presented to
a state
grand jury for potential indictment.
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