Press Release  Worcester Individual Indicted For Stealing From Rest Home And Residents

Worcester — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced today that an administrator of Donna Kay Rest Home (Donna Kay), located in Worcester, was indicted last week in connection with a scheme to steal more than $220,000 from the rest home and its elderly residents. 

Luiza Wade, age 43, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was indicted by a Worcester County Grand Jury on June 20, 2024. The Defendant was charged with four counts of Larceny Over $250 from a Person 60 Years or Older or Disabled, G.L. c. 266, § 30(5); four counts of Larceny Over $1,200, G.L. c. 266, § 30(1); two counts of Forgery, G.L. c. 267, § 1; one count of False Entry in Corporate Books, G.L. c. 266, § 67; and one count of Tax Evasion, G.L. c. 62C, § 73. 

The AGO alleges that Wade engaged in a scheme in which she deposited at least $220,000 of funds belonging to the Donna Kay Rest Home and over forty of its residents into her personal bank accounts between June 2018 and May 2021. The AGO further alleges that Wade forged resident signatures as part of this scheme and failed to report any of the money as income on her Massachusetts tax returns.   

All of the charges are allegations, and the Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. 

This case is being handled by Senior Trial Counsel Elisha Willis, Assistant Attorney General Patrick McCooe, Investigations Supervisors Dean Bates and Joe Shea, Senior Healthcare Fraud Investigator Mirlinda Sejdiu, and Investigator Vanessa Asiatidis, all of the AGO’s Medicaid Fraud Division. Donna Kay Rest Home, the Department of Public Health, and the Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AGO provided assistance during the investigation. 

This matter is the AGO’s most recent effort to advance elder justice and hold accountable those who misuse roles of authority or public trust, including through elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Earlier this month, the AGO announced a $4 million settlement with a Woburn-based long-term care management company over allegations of inadequate staffing. Earlier this year, the AGO sought and obtained indictments against a Springfield Medicaid consultant who had stolen thousands of dollars from elderly victims at nursing homes. In 2023, the AG Campbell announced the creation of the Elder Justice Unit, which works to protect and promote the safety and well-being of elders through various tools of the AGO.  

The Massachusetts Medicaid Fraud Division receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $5,865,996 for federal fiscal year 2024. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $1,955,330 for FY 2024, is funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

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