The Strategies for Effective Elder Abuse Investigations Conference is designed to provide professionals involved in elder abuse investigations with valuable knowledge and practical strategies to enhance their effectiveness in identifying, preventing, and responding to elder abuse cases. 

By bringing together experts from various fields, this conference aims to promote collaboration, share experiences, and develop effective approaches to combat elder abuse and protect vulnerable adults. The conference program includes a diverse range of topics designed to address the multifaceted aspects of elder abuse investigations, ensuring attendees leave the event better equipped to handle these complex cases.

Register at https://www.elderabuseconference.info/

Agenda

June 10, 2024

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM Name Badge Pickup & Information Desk

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM Opening

8:45 AM - 9:45 AM

Lessons Learned on a 20 Year Journey of Prosecuting Elder Abuse Cases

Paul Greenwood, Retired San Diego Prosecutor

Former career prosecutor Paul Greenwood will draw upon his 22 years of prosecuting serious elder abuse cases to share important lessons that he has learned in the courtroom. He will describe some of the barriers to successful investigation that may explain why many legitimate complaints of abuse, neglect or exploitation never end up in court. Greenwood will also emphasize the importance of networking to underscore his belief that effective methods to counteract this escalating crime call for a multi-disciplinary approach. Throughout the presentation Greenwood will share practical examples of what worked and will deliver a message of optimism and a challenge to energize communities in finding solutions to the “crime of the 21st century.”

9:45 AM -10:00 AM

Coffee Break

10:00am - 11:45am

When Injuries Speak: Forensic Wound ID of Possible Abuse & Neglect of Vulnerable Person

Dean Brewer, Chief Investigator, Carrol County State's Attorney's Office

Abuse/neglect of vulnerable adults is one of the most underreported crimes across this country. Every day in community settings, nursing homes, assisted living and developmentally disabled group homes, abuse and neglect are occurring. When reports of possible neglect or abuse is made to law enforcement, it is your responsibility to properly investigate and prosecute when needed. We will discuss some of the more common injuries occurring including burns, submersion burns, slaps, spiral fractures, and overmedicating. How best to interview the victim and the facility documents to request via subpoena as your investigation progresses.

11:45 AM - 1:00AM

Lunch

1:00pm - 2:00pm

The Role of a Forensic Accountant in Financial Exploitation Investigations

Dr. David Weber, CFE, Salisbury University, Purdue School of Business

Increasingly, the field of financial investigations, also known as forensic accounting, has become a critical skillset. Fraud examiners and forensic accountants are the bloodhounds of white-collar crime, including financial and digital exploitation cases. They are capable of investigating the who, what, when, where and why of all modern financial crimes, including those involving computers, mobile devices and cryptocurrency.  In this engaging presentation, you will be introduced to the fraud and forensic accounting profession, and how their skills are used in financial exploitation and high-tech crime against elders and vulnerable adults. Dr. Weber will discuss how the program he leads, the Fraud and Forensic Accounting Certificate Program at Salisbury University is supporting the fight against financial exploitation and high-tech crime on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Through generous grants, the program is matching forensics students with state and local law enforcement to provide the financial and digital forensics skill set. With an eye towards replicating the forensic accounting partnerships of the Eastern Shore, Dr. Weber will provide attendees with the initial knowledge to create partnerships within their own communities.

2:00pm - 3:00pm

Investigating Abuse and Neglect in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

Dr. Tricia Nay, MD, CHCQM, FAAFP, FABQUARP, FAAHPM
Heather Reed
Carol Fenderson

The Office of Health Care Quality will be presenting and providing examples on definitions of different types of elder abuse; important questions to ask when receiving an intake; investigations consist of observations, interviews, and document reviews; possible signs of physical and/or emotional abuse during observations and interactions; conducting interviews with the elderly to make it meaningful; and making reports and referrals.

3:00pm - 3:30pm

Stretch Break

3:30pm - 4:30pm

Investigative Documentation

Barbara Pratt, Curriculum Developer, VA Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

Joint investigations of cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation by law enforcement and APS are considered best practice.  The goal for law enforcement is a successful prosecution. APS is focused on stopping or preventing future maltreatment, with or without criminal charges. This session will focus on writing comprehensive, clear, and balanced Adult Protective Service investigative documentation that could better support possible legal action. We will use examples and group exercises to illustrate what is a factual statement. Conversely, we will identify when case notes are instead a supported professional opinion, assessment, or conclusion. We will consider common alleged perpetrators' explanations and specific questions to ask to determine the credibility of the information.

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Networking Reception

June 11, 2024

8:30am - 10:30pm

Case Study: The Prosecution of Billy Chermimir

Glen Fitzmartin, Deputy Administrator, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
Detective Paul Martinez, Plano Police Department
Sgt. Kelly Pagel, Richardson Police Department

Billy Chemirmir was accused of posing as a medical professional or maintenance person and gaining access to the properties of at least twenty-two elderly women and smothering them with a pillow. Most of Chemirmir's victims lived in apartments at independent living communities for older adults. Among the women he’s accused of killing in private homes is the widow of a man he had cared for while working as an at-home caregiver. Chemirmir was ultimately indicted on 22 capital murder charges, 13 in Dallas County and nine in nearby Collin County and convicted of two. The presentation by DA Fitzmartin, Detective Martinez, and Sgt. Pagel will give an in-depth look at the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Chemirmir.

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM

Coffee Break

10:45am - 11:45am

Financial Institutions and the Fight Against Elder Financial Exploitation

Ron Long, National Authority on Elder Investor Fraud 

This session will describe the traditional role financial institutions play in the lives of older persons and how they are working to help combat elder financial abuse.  It will also talk through some challenges aging advocates have with these institutions and some potential solutions.

11:45am - 1:00pm 

Lunch

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) Program

Laura Richardson, Bank Act Secrecy Act Consultant to the CFPB
Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Senior Policy Analyst, Office for Older Americans, CFPB 

Under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), financial institutions are federally required to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to report transactions that the filer knows or suspects to be related to a wide variety of criminal offenses. SARs on potential elder financial exploitation can be a critical investigative tool for law enforcement and prosecutors to gather evidence, identify patterns, and connect dots. Social services organizations don’t have access to SARs, nor do all law enforcement agencies. But awareness of SARs can inform their coordination with law enforcement and prosecutors using SARs. This session will explain the basics of the financial industry’s SAR reporting practices, and present trends in EFE SARs. We will discuss promising practices in using SARs effectively for law enforcement case initiation and development.

2:00pm - 3:00pm

The Role of APS

Michael Hagenlock, MSW, LCSW, LAC, CFO National Adult Protective Services Association

The criminal justice system and APS are natural allies who are best able to meet needs when they collaborate. Effective collaboration requires that APS professionals and Law enforcement understand the roles, authority, guiding principles, and language to create respectful partnerships. APS and the criminal justice system professionals address allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and people with disabilities. As APS professionals, we deal with these allegations daily. The criminal justice system often has less expertise in handling cases involving older adults and adults with a disability and often lacks training in the dynamics of these cases. APS professionals and criminal justice system professionals also focus on different things. You already know your role of the criminal justice system, we will focus on APS’s role, and priorities which is investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and working with the person, when possible, to stabilize the situation and reduce the risk for future abuse or neglect. The focus is on the person. APS programs across the country are receiving increased reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation (Adult Maltreatment). Some of these reports include acts that may be criminal. At the same time, more and more jurisdictions are enacting laws that criminalize acts committed in the types of cases that APS investigates. The criminal justice system operates under its laws, principles, and procedures, which are very different from APS and can be confusing when working cases together. This training is designed to help Law enforcement and APS professionals develop or enhance their understanding and appreciation for the civil and criminal justice system role. career prosecutor Paul Greenwood will draw upon his 22 years of prosecuting serious elder abuse cases to share important lessons that he has learned in the courtroom. He will describe some of the barriers to successful investigation that may explain why many legitimate complaints of abuse, neglect or exploitation never end up in court. Greenwood will also emphasize the importance of networking to underscore his belief that effective methods to counteract this escalating crime call for a multi-disciplinary approach. Throughout the presentation Greenwood will share practical examples of what worked and will deliver a message of optimism and a challenge to energize communities in finding solutions to the “crime of the 21st century.”

3:00pm - 3:15pm

Break

3:15pm - 4:15pm

Federal Elder Abuse

Courtney l. Mulholland, U.S. Postal Inspector Greenwood, Retired San Diego Prosecutor

An in-depth presentation from the United States Postal Service on how Federal Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation cases are investigated and prosecuted. This session will also include an overview on how law enforcement can make referrals to federal agencies for review. Inspector Mulholland will give an update on current financial exploitation and fraud trends that are occuring in the United States.    career prosecutor Paul Greenwood will draw upon his 22 years of prosecuting serious elder abuse cases to share important lessons that he has learned in the courtroom. He will describe some of the barriers to successful investigation that may explain why many legitimate complaints of abuse, neglect or exploitation never end up in court. Greenwood will also emphasize the importance of networking to underscore his belief that effective methods to counteract this escalating crime call for a multi-disciplinary approach. Throughout the presentation Greenwood will share practical examples of what worked and will deliver a message of optimism and a challenge to energize communities in finding solutions to the “crime of the 21st century.”

June 12, 2024

8:30am - 9:30am

Non-Traditional, Trans-National Organized Crime and how they Target Older Adults

Dale Morgan, President, National Association of Bunco Investigators (NABI)

This presentation will focus on nontraditional organized crime and nomadic organized criminals. These groups have identified subcultures which the FBI has identified as criminal groups identifying themselves as Travelers, Gypsies, Romanian Nationals, and other theft groups that target the elderly. The presentation will delve into the types of confidence schemes employed by these groups, the wealth associated with this type of organized crime, subculture characteristics, and issues with prosecution such as challenges with victims, witnesses, identification, extradition, education, and non-violent crime. Furthermore, the presentation will explore what tactics the criminals employ to ensure the success of these scams. It will address a comprehensive solution involving the collaboration of various entities such as the media, APS, local law enforcement, the FBI, and financial institutions.

9:30am - 9:45am

Coffee Break

9:45am - 10:45am

Hiding in Plain Sight: Older Adults Benefit Tracking

Jordan Satinsky, Captain, Montgomery County Police Department

An emerging type of trafficking is targeting overlooked at-risk adults. Benefits Trafficking is the systematic recruitment, harboring, neglect, and financial exploitation of elder and disabled adults who receive government benefits such as Social Security, Veteran's Benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare. Traffickers often pose as kind-hearted individuals offering to provide care for at-risk adults in an in-home setting. Once recruited, at-risk adults are stripped of their government benefits, held against their will, moved from location to location, and denied basic needs such as food, clothing, and adequate shelter. While Benefits Trafficking is a basic civil rights violation issue, it is also a growing public health issue. Victims of Benefits Trafficking are often the forgotten at-risk adults who have fallen through the cracks of various mental health systems, are unhoused, and no longer have a social support system in place.

10:45am - 11:45am

The Forensic Interview

Dr. Crimson Barocca, LCSW-C, Manager of Forensic Interview Research & Investigation

The forensic interview, historically used in child maltreatment investigations, has rarely been used as a trauma informed technique with older adults. Learn about the value of forensic interviews for gathering reliable and detailed information from adult victims. You will learn forensic interview techniques to address the physical and emotional needs of the individual and how this lends to them providing more complete statements. This session will provide an overview of a phased approach to interviewing and best practice question types.

11:45am - 1:00pm

Lunch

1:00pm - 2:00pm

EAGLE (Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement)

TBD

By virtue of U.S. demographics, elder abuse is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) is a national web module designed to support officers in identifying, intervening, and resolving cases of elder abuse.

2:00pm - 3:00pm

AI meets AARP: The new frontier of Elder Fraud

Christopher DeAngelis, ZELIS, VP of Enterprise Fraud Strategy

Older adults have long been targets of fraud and exploitation by bad actors. Now, the rapid advancement in AI technology is making this vulnerable population even more exploitable. While some new and unique schemes have emerged, the more significant impact is coming from the improvement and sophistication to existing methods that AI brings to the table. It is not only helping unknown third parties commit these crimes but also providing unscrupulous caregivers and family members with the means to do it more often, and in more damaging ways.

2:00pm - 3:00pm Closing