Suwanee man arrested in nursing home Social Security scam

Contributed photo

Contributed photo

A Suwanee man was arrested Friday in connection with a statewide investigation into an unlicensed nursing home, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.

Harold Louis Hunt, 56, has been indicted in Dougherty County on 17 charges including violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); neglect to a disabled adult, elder person or resident; exploitation and intimidation of disabled adult, elder person or resident; and operating an unlicensed personal care home.

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Michelle Oliver, 39, was arrested in Albany on Sept. 17. She and Hunt allegedly worked together in a scheme involving unlicensed nursing homes in Dougherty, Monroe and Bibb counties. Oliver was charged with exploitation and intimidation of disabled adults, elder persons, and residents; neglect of a disabled adult, elder person, and resident; and operating an unlicensed personal care home in September.

Hunt acted as the payee for Social Security benefits for multiple elderly people in Oliver’s care and directed the Social Security funds to Oliver’s bank accounts, the GBI said.

The GBI began investigating Oliver in July 2017, when people in apartments rented by Oliver in Albany were found begging for food. Fourteen people across three unlicensed facilities were “rescued,” the GBI said.

The investigation is still open and the GBI expects more charges to be filed. Anyone with information about the case should call the GBI’s Sylvester office at 229-777-2080.

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