A caseworker from Athens has been charged with stealing money from an elderly patient. Ronald Thomas, age 49, was an Adult Protective Services Caseworker with the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) when he allegedly used that position to steal money from an elderly victim. According to a press release from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Thomas was arrested on Wednesday and charged with 10 counts of Elder Exploitation.
The investigation began in August when the Toccoa Police Department requested the GBI investigate the exploitation of a citizen within that community. During that investigation, agents learned that Thomas was the caseworker assigned to the victim and was using his employment as opportunity to access their funds illegally.
The crimes happened across the span of three North Georgia counties- Union, Stephens and Clarke.
Thomas was suspended without pay, pending an internal investigation by the DHS and he currently remains in the Stephens County jail at this time.
