A Lowell home health aide who admitted taking $1.4 million from a man in her care now says there is nothing left to give back, even as bank records show tens of thousands spent on travel and home renovations. A judge ordered Fatumata Jaiteh to repay $500,000, but attorneys for the late man’s estate say about $168,000 is still missing. They allege that money from the sale of a Lowell property was shifted into Jaiteh’s accounts in defiance of a court order, and a judge is set to weigh possible contempt penalties next month.
As reported by WCVB, Jaiteh became power of attorney for the late Dr. Louis Braida, a former MIT professor, and later acknowledged receiving roughly $1.4 million while he was still alive. Braida’s family sued and ultimately reached a settlement in which Jaiteh agreed to repay $500,000, according to court records, but the estate says that agreement still has not been fully honored.
Bank records show travel and renovations
In Middlesex Superior Court on Monday, estate attorneys walked the judge through bank records that they say tell the story of where at least some of the money went. According to their accounting, about $10,000 was spent on an overseas trip and roughly $50,000 went into home renovations after the Lowell property was sold.
Jaiteh told the court that she believed she did not need to make further payments under the settlement, saying, according to the record, “My lawyer told me I don’t have to pay,” and claimed there was no money left to turn over. As detailed by WCVB, the estate’s lawyers argue those transfers violated an existing court order and are urging the judge to hold her in contempt.
Family demands accountability
Outside the courtroom, Braida’s sister, Mary Massey, called for far tougher consequences and said her brother endured “emotional, physical and financial abuse” while he was under Jaiteh’s care. She told reporters she wants to see professional sanctions and potential criminal action, and estate attorneys said they have started receiving calls from people who fear they or their loved ones could be targets of similar financial schemes.
Legal status and next steps
The judge is expected to decide in May whether Jaiteh will be held in contempt over the disputed transfers and whether additional remedies are appropriate. For now, the matter remains a civil case focused on enforcing the settlement and recovering the unpaid balance. Massey and her lawyers say they are reviewing every available option to claw back funds and to push for penalties that would keep Jaiteh out of elder care work in the future.
What experts say and how to report abuse
Advocates say the case underscores how easily a trusted caregiver or financial decision-maker can exploit an older adult, a problem that state and federal agencies have been trying to confront more aggressively. The federal interagency guidance, available from the Federal Reserve, outlines steps banks and other institutions can take to spot and respond to suspected elder financial exploitation.
In Massachusetts, an Elder Abuse hotline and online reporting guidance are maintained at Mass.gov for anyone who has concerns about possible mistreatment, whether financial, physical or emotional.
