Home health aid accused of using elderly client's money to buy car, pay rent
Home health aide accused of stealing $25K
A 24-year-old woman is accused of doing a lot more harm than good during her time as a home health assistant in the metro Atlanta area. Investigators say she stole financial and other information from the people she was taking care of so she could go on shopping sprees. She didn’t spend just a little bit of money. They say she spent a lot.
SUWANEE, Ga. - Police are asking for the public’s help as they investigate an ongoing identity fraud and elder exploitation case involving a home health assistant accused of targeting elderly residents.
What we know:
Briauna Powell, a 24-year-old, was hired to provide in-home care to elderly patients, but Suwanee Police say she instead helped herself to their personal and financial information. According to one of Powell’s warrants, she purchased a vehicle.
"I was really shocked when we found out about the vehicle that was purchased," said Suwanee Police Capt. Robert Thompson. The warrant stated that the vehicle cost more than $16,000. Investigators also accuse her of paying her rent three times, going on a Lowe's shopping spree where she spent $1,700, and paying her personal ADT security bill.
Briauna Powell. Photo courtesy of Suwanee Police Department
When we added up the purchases listed in the arrest warrants, they totaled roughly $25,000. Capt. Thompson said they were notified by a victim’s power of attorney. When they started investigating, they found Powell, who worked at "Visiting Angels," had used her job to victimize at least two others in Gwinnett County and another in DeKalb County. He said nobody knew they had been a victim.
Powell faces nearly two dozen charges, including identity theft, fraud, and elder exploitation. She is being held without bond.
What they're saying:
"We found through our investigation that she was defrauding the people that she worked for, using their credit cards, bank account information, to purchase things," Capt. Thompson said.
Powell certainly bought things. Arrest warrants show a pattern of purchases.
"I don't know how she thought she'd get away with it. Maybe she thought, because they were elderly and they couldn't care for themselves, so they wouldn't notice," Capt. Thompson said. "If you’re preying on the people that can't take care of themselves, we take that seriously, and we want to make sure she's held accountable."
Briauna Powell. Courtesy of Gwinnett County Police Department
Capt. Thompson believes more victims are out there and says if she has ever worked in your home or with your elderly family member, and you suspect any fraudulent activity has occurred, call them.
"Everybody has elderly people in their families and you can't always be there for everything and when you have somebody coming to the house to help take care of them and then they just take advantage of them, it just hurts the public altogether," he said.
The other side:
"We provide the highest quality service to our clients. We followed company policy and this employee passed a thorough background check with no issues. She has been terminated and we continue to cooperate with authorities in this case," said Carolyn Easter, owner.
What you can do:
If you believe you or a loved one may have been affected, contact Detective Zaenglein at 470-360-0689 or email Dzaenglein@suwanee.com.