Assisted Living Manager Stole $237K From Morristown Woman: DOJ

MORRISTOWN, NJ — A former business manager for a Morristown assisted living facility was indicted on charges she stole $237,000 from an elderly woman, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said on Wednesday.

Marcella Drakeford, 45, of Jensen Beach, Florida, was charged with six counts of mail fraud for allegedly opening credit cards in the victim's name and using them to pay for personal expenses, Carpenito said. She was arrested in Florida and will be arraigned in early April in federal court in Newark.

According to Carpenito, Drakeford was granted limited access to the woman's checking acquiring in December 2016 to help manager her finances. Without telling the woman or the woman's guardian, Drakeford had already gained access to the victim's credit cards and had opened several more in her name. She allegedly used the cards to pay for clothing, jewelry, and automobiles, dental work, rent, and utilities, and then used money from the checking account to pay off the cards.

The assisted living facility was not named in the complaint.

In total, Drakeford is accusing of defrauding the woman of $237,000. If found guilty, she faces up to 120 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss caused by the scheme.

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