Wilmington – On the eve of World Elder Abuse Awareness, marked annually on June 15, Attorney General Beau Biden today announced the recent indictment of six defendants charged in a home improvement scam that targeted Delaware seniors. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is designed to bring greater recognition of mistreatment of older adults and highlight the resources available to victims and their families.
“We know that our seniors are especially vulnerable to financial scams, physical abuse, and neglect,” Biden said. “Unfortunately, too often, seniors suffer in silence because for every case of senior abuse that is reported to authorities, five more cases go unreported. We’re committed to confronting these crimes and responding aggressively against perpetrators, and we’re working to raise awareness so that all Delawareans can recognize the signs of abuse and stand up for our seniors.”
On May 28, 2013 Biden’s office secured a 12-count indictment charging six individuals with Home Improvement Fraud, Theft, and Conspiracy. The indictment followed a year-long investigation conducted cooperatively by the Attorney General’s Senior Protection Initiative, Wilmington Police, and New Castle County Police. The investigation, which ultimately linked four New Castle County victims over the age of 62 to the defendants, revealed that over a two-year period from August, 2010 to November, 2012, the defendants made unsolicited door-to-door visits to victims’ homes offering to provide home repairs, some of which were unnecessary. The indictment alleges that little or no work was completed by the defendants. Three of the four victims were solicited by the defendants multiple times. One victim ultimately paid more than $100,000 to the defendants, and together the four victims paid the defendants more than $125,000.
The defendants and their charges are:
- Alexander Patterson, age 46, charged with Home Improvement Fraud (4 counts), Theft of a Senior Over $100,000 (1 count), Theft of a Senior Over $1,500 (3 counts), and Conspiracy (4 counts);
- Alexander Williamson, age 27, charged with Home Improvement Fraud (3 counts), Theft of a Senior Over $100,000 (1 count), Theft of a Senior Over $1,500 (2 counts), and Conspiracy (3 counts);
- Robert Gregg, age 52, charged with one count each of Home Improvement Fraud, Theft of a Senior Over $100,000, and Conspiracy;
- Frances Williamson, age 47, charged with Home Improvement Fraud (3 counts), Theft of a Senior Over $100,000 (1 count), Theft of a Senior Over $1,500 (2 counts), and Conspiracy (3 counts);
- Billie Jean Robson, age 27, charged with one count each of Home Improvement Fraud, Theft of a Senior Over $1,500, and Conspiracy;
- Catherine Robson, age 27, charged with one count each of Home Improvement Fraud, Theft of a Senior Over $1,500, and Conspiracy
The defendants are transient residents who have no permanent address but are believed to be currently living in the tri-state area of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. During the investigation, arrest warrants were issued for all six defendants and three defendants were arrested earlier this spring: Robert Gregg was arrested on April 2, 2013 and released on $3,000 unsecured bail; Frances Williamson was arrested on February 20, 2013 and again on March 7, 2013 and was released on $13,000 unsecured bail, and Billie Jean Robson was arrested on March 25, 2013 and released on $4,000 secured bail. Arrest warrants remain pending for the three additional defendants.
A booking image for Frances Williamson is attached. Booking images for Robert Gregg and Billie Jean Robson are unavailable at this time.
Attorney General Biden established the Delaware Department of Justice Senior Protection Initiative in 2008 to increase educational outreach and bring together state agencies, law enforcement, and other advocates to tackle crimes against seniors. The initiative consists of three components: 1.) expanded public education with programs that highlight the signs of senior abuse, educate seniors about ways to avoid being a victim, and encourage victims to report their abuse; 2.) training to law enforcement, first responders, and service providers to help them recognize and respond to the signs of physical abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, and 3.) the creation of a Multi-Disciplinary Team consisting of prosecutors, police, social services representatives, and others with the mission to identify and pursue senior abuse cases.
Biden urged anyone aware of a senior being victimized by neglect, physical abuse, or financial exploitation to call the Attorney General’s Consumer hotline at 1-800-220-5424 or Delaware’s Adult Protective Services hotline at 1-800-223-9074 and directed those who suspect a case of senior abuse in a Delaware-licensed residential facility to call the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Hotline at (302) 577-5000 or the Division of Long Term Care Residents Protection at 1-877-453-0012.
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