Aide arrested for charging more than $11,000 on elderly victim’s credit cards
FREEHOLD – A former home health aide has been charged for illegally charging more than a combined $11,000 of unauthorized purchases on the credit cards of an elderly victim under her care, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Kathleen G. Campion, 50, of Belmar, is charged with one count of third degree Theft By Unlawful Taking, one count of third degree Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card and one count of fourth degree Theft of Credit Card. Campion faces up to 5 years in a New Jersey state prison on each of the third degree charges and up to $15,000 in fines.
Campion was charged on March 2, 2019 following an investigation that began in May of 2018. The Spring Lake Police Department received a call alerting them that there were unauthorized charges on various credit cards belonging to a 90-year old female victim. It was later discovered that the amount of fraudulent charges made on the victim’s credit cards totaled $11,877.53.
“It is incumbent on everyone, particularly those of us in law enforcement, to protect the elderly from harm and fraudulent activity. To that end, the Spring Lake Police Department caught an individual who was entrusted with ensuring the health and well-being of an elderly patient and shamelessly exploited that relationship for her own personal gain,” Gramiccioni said. “This arrest demonstrates the value of our partnerships with the local law enforcement agencies that help us remain vigilant and keep an ever-watchful eye over those that are most vulnerable to this type of fraudulent criminal activity.”
The investigation determined that Campion was misappropriating the funds while taking care of the victim, whom she had cared for since 2013. The unauthorized charges included paying for the defendant’s utility bill, cell phone bill, the defendant’s health insurance and rent.
The arrest was made by the Spring Lake Police Department.
The case has been assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Diane Aifer.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.
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