South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has arrested Keith C. Suber, 53 years old, of Eastover, SC, for one count of Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult {43-35-0085 (D)} and one count of Breach of Trust with Fraudulent Intent, value $10,000 or more {16-13-0230(A)}. Suber was booked into the Lexington County Detention Center on July 30, 2024.
An investigation by VAMPF revealed that, between January 5, 2018 and February 7, 2024, Suber knowingly made unlawful and unauthorized use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Specifically, it is alleged that Suber, while being entrusted as the victim’s power of attorney, converted $202,753.05 in funds and assets of the victim for his own personal use. The victim, a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law, resided at OPUS Post Acute Rehabilitation, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, at the time of the alleged misconduct.
OPUS Post Acute Rehabilitation referred the misconduct to VAMPF. This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both. Breach of Trust value more than $10,000 is a felony and, upon conviction, has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court.
Pursuant to federal regulations, VAMPF has authority over Medicaid provider fraud; abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting; and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.
Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,698,638 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $899,546 for FFY 2024, is funded by South Carolina.
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