(CHILLICOTHE, Ohio)— Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Ross County Prosecutor Matthew S. Schmidt today announced that a Chillicothe woman has pleaded guilty to identity fraud and stealing from an elderly woman with a disability while serving as the elderly woman’s home health aide.
Beth Meyers, 34, of Chillicothe, pleaded guilty today in the Ross County Common Pleas Court to one count of identity fraud, one count of theft from a person in a protected class, and one count of misuse of a credit card.
According to investigators, Meyers used the elderly woman’s Social Security number and address to open and use several lines of credit in the victim’s name between July 2015 and August 2015, while Meyers worked as her home health care provider. Meyers also used the victim’s ATM card to steal cash. In all, investigators found that Meyers took over $3,000, which she used to pay for a vacation and car repairs.
“The defendant was in a position of trust, and she took advantage of it,” Attorney General DeWine said. “It’s a very sad situation. She stole from a woman who relied on her for care.”
“We appreciate the Attorney General’s Office partnering with Ross County to obtain justice for a vulnerable member of our community,” said Ross County Prosecutor Schmidt.
The case is being prosecuted by an attorney with the Ohio Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Unit, who was appointed as a special prosecutor by the Ross County Prosecutor. The case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Unit with the Ross County Sheriff’s Department.
Meyers is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 22, 2017.
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