Spalding County Couple Indicted on Charges of Operating an Unlicensed Personal Care Home

Attorney General Chris Carr, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie M. Broder, and Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia Executive Director Pete Skandalakis today announced the indictment of Curtis Bankston and Sophia Simm-Bankston in Spalding County. Both defendants are charged with Operating an Unlicensed Personal Care Home, Unreasonable Confinement of a Disabled Adult, and Unreasonable Confinement of a Resident. This case is being jointly prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia on behalf of District Attorney Marie Broder. 

“The abuse, neglect, or exploitation of Georgia’s older and at-risk adults is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “Addressing the issue of unlicensed personal care homes is critical to ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable Georgians. We cannot and will not allow these types of operations to fall under the radar.”

“There are few things more reprehensible than abusing those who cannot care for themselves, but profiting from that abuse is truly despicable,” said Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder. “These defendants took advantage of people that were entrusted to their care, and the District Attorney’s Office is grateful for the expertise that the Attorney General and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council bring to the prosecution of these acts.”

“Every person with a disability deserves dignity and a safe and secure place to live,” said Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council Executive Director Pete Skandalakis. “That is why we must hold unlicensed care homes accountable for their illegal conduct. It is always an honor to work with Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder and her team in their tireless efforts to obtain justice for victims.”

Prosecutors presented evidence to a Spalding County Grand Jury, resulting in the indictment* of Curtis Bankston and Sophia Simm-Bankston on March 21, 2024. Specifically, the defendants are facing the following charges:

Curtis Bankston:

• 1 count of Operating an Unlicensed Personal Care Home
• 6 counts of Unreasonable Confinement of a Disabled Adult
• 1 count of Unreasonable Confinement of a Resident

Sophia Simm-Bankston:

• 1 count of Operating an Unlicensed Personal Care Home
• 6 counts of Unreasonable Confinement of a Disabled Adult
• 1 count of Unreasonable Confinement of a Resident

This case was investigated by the Griffin Police Department, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division, and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.

Original source can be found here.