A former business office coordinator at two senior living facilities has been indicted on charges of wire fraud, according to a statement from the office of United States Attorney David Metcalf. Mia Hardy, 58, from Chester, Pennsylvania, is accused of devising a scheme to defraud both vulnerable residents and their senior living facilities out of approximately $366,000 via unauthorized checks and petty cash payments.
The indictment alleges that Hardy used her position to repeatedly exploit a resident fund management service that was designed to safeguard and manage the personal finances of residents, many of whom required significant medical assistance. From March 2020 to August 2023, authorities claim that Hardy issued approximately 49 checks totaling around $122,941 from Senior Living Facility #1 resident accounts to her relatives and associates without the residents' knowledge or authorization.
It is further alleged that Hardy continued to perpetrate a similar fraud at Senior Living Facility #2 when she became employed there in April 2024, continuing until July 2024. According to the indictment, she not only issued unauthorized checks from the residents' accounts but also improperly obtained a blank personal check from a resident's Capital One bank account, which she gave to an associate.
If convicted, Hardy faces severe penalties for her alleged actions. Each count of wire fraud could lead to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $250,000. The notice of forfeiture in the indictment aims to retrieve up to $366,000 from Hardy.
The case, which has come to light following an investigation by the FBI, is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Louis D. Lappen. While these charges pose a heavy weight upon Hardy's future, it's imperative to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation. Hardy remains presumed innocent until proven guilty, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
