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TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the arrest of a Broward County woman on charges that she exploited an elderly resident of an assisted living facility. Kasandra Lynch was arrested this morning by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Authorities believe Lynch, a certified nursing assistant, stole money from the elderly victim’s handbag.

The arrest resulted from an investigation by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, acting on information received from the Department of Children and Families and the Patient Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation (PANE) project. The investigation revealed that Lynch, who was employed at Grand Court Village Assisted Living Facility, removed cash from the elderly victim’s handbag without the victim’s permission. When the victim inquired why Lynch was looking inside her handbag, Lynch replied with a retort about the resident not taking her medicine properly. Shortly thereafter, the victim looked for the cash that had been in her wallet, discovered it was missing and reported the theft to authorities and staff at the facility.

Lynch, 42, is being held at the Broward County jail. She is charged with one count of exploitation of an elderly person. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The case will be prosecuted by the Broward State Attorney’s Office.

The PANE Project plays a key role in detecting abuse and neglect of elderly and disabled patients, helping to ensure that efficient and effective health care is being provided. The Attorney General’s Office has several PANE teams located throughout the state, all dedicated to protecting Florida’s elderly citizens.