Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that a York County husband and wife have been charged with abandoning a care-dependent woman — the wife’s mother — in a basement, while the couple went on vacation.
Ashlee Brady and Brian Brady, each 32, of Hanover, are also charged with using the woman’s finances for their own personal expenses, including vacations and alcohol.
Ashlee was her mother’s power of attorney; Brian was the victim’s caregiver and was reimbursed with Medicaid funds through his employer.
Both are charged with financial exploitation of an older adult/care-dependent person, theft by deception, neglect of a care-dependent person, and conspiracy counts to commit all of the above listed crimes. Ashlee Brady is also charged with perjury and two counts of intimidation of a witness and Brian Brady is charged with four counts of Medicaid fraud.
“These alleged acts are truly disturbing on many levels — as these defendants were not only family, her own daughter and son-in-law, they were paid to look out for this victim’s best interests,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I commend the investigators who uncovered this cycle of abusive and exploitative conduct. My office will continue to stand up for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents.”
In February 2024, the victim was found, alone, locked in the basement of her home. She was soiled and penned into a corner with a dog gate. She had been left with hot dogs and two cups of water. Emergency Medical Services found the victim after a relative called them for assistance.
An investigation determined that the defendants left the victim in the basement and took an overnight trip with their children. Further investigation uncovered alleged financial exploitation, as the defendants used more than $10,000 of the victim’s money on vacations, alcohol, and other activities not related to her care or upkeep.
Also, Brian allegedly submitted hours to his employer, for reimbursement from Medicaid, for services he did not provide the victim. Investigators determined that Ashlee Brady lied under oath about the abandonment incident, saying she made arrangements for a family member to watch the victim.
The Brady’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 27.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher R. Sherwood. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Pennsylvania Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $12,839,940 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $4,279,979 for FY 2025, is funded by Pennsylvania.
Original source can be found here.