Lilac Rain Brown-Fisher, a former employee at Maple Ridge Memory Care in Vermont, has been sentenced for the felony of financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. The Attorney General’s Office reported that Brown-Fisher, aged 29 from Essex Junction, was involved in the theft of valuable heirlooms from elderly and disabled clients. Judge John L. Pacht presided over the case and sentenced her to up to five years in prison, suspended for probation due to her prompt acceptance of responsibility. She is required to pay restitution, refrain from working with vulnerable adults, and complete a restorative justice program with 200 hours of community service.
The case began in February 2024 when a resident's family discovered missing keepsake jewelry at a local pawn shop, Vermont Coin and Jewelry. An investigation by Essex Police Department detectives linked the thefts to Brown-Fisher through surveillance footage. Further investigation by the Attorney General’s Office uncovered additional thefts by Brown-Fisher; however, those items had already been sold.
Brown-Fisher entered into a plea agreement on November 21, 2024. Sentencing was postponed to allow victims' families to present statements during the hearing. One victim expressed their distress: “My [mother’s] ring is gone and there’s no getting it back. My heart is sick that I can’t pass it down to her beloved granddaughter.”
The public is urged to report any suspected exploitation or abuse of vulnerable individuals to local law enforcement or Adult Protective Services at 800-564-1612.
Funding for the Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit comes predominantly from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with $1,332,724 allocated for Federal fiscal year FY 2025; an additional $444,241 is provided by the State of Vermont.