Strategies for Effective Elder Abuse Investigations
The Strategies for Effective Elder Abuse Investigations Conference is designed to provide professionals involved in elder abuse investigations with valuable knowledge and practical strategies to enhance their effectiveness in identifying, preventing, and responding to elder abuse cases.
By bringing together experts from various fields, this conference aims to promote collaboration, share experiences, and develop effective approaches to combat elder abuse and protect vulnerable adults. The conference program includes a diverse range of topics designed to address the multifaceted aspects of elder abuse investigations, ensuring attendees leave the event better equipped to handle these complex cases.
November 18-20, 2024
Columbia, MD
The Speakers
05
Featured Expert Speakers
01
Paul Greenwood
Lessons Learned on a 20 Year Journey of Prosecuting Elder Abuse Cases
Retired Deputy District Attorney Paul Greenwood was a solicitor in England for 13 years. After relocating to San Diego in 1991 he passed the California Bar and joined the DA's office in 1993. For twenty two years Paul headed up the Elder Abuse Prosecution
Unit at the San Diego DA’s Office. In 1999 California Lawyer magazine named Paul as one of their top 20 lawyers of the year in recognition of his pioneering efforts to pursue justice on behalf of senior citizens.
He has prosecuted over 750 felony cases of both physical, sexual, emotional and financial elder abuse. He has also prosecuted ten murder cases, including one death penalty case.
In March 2018 Paul retired from the San Diego DA’s office to concentrate on sharing lessons learned from his elder abuse prosecutions with a wider audience. In October 2018 he was given a lifetime achievement award by his former office. Paul now spends much of his post retirement time speaking on behalf of AARP
nationally, consulting on elder abuse cases, testifying as an expert witness and providing trainings to law enforcement and Adult Protective Services agencies across the country and internationally. He is also involved as the criminal justice board member of National Adult Protective Services Association.
Christopher DeAngelis
AI meets AARP: The new frontier of Elder Fraud
Currently the Vice President of Enterprise Fraud Strategy and Prevention at leading Healthcare payment provider Zelis, Chris has over 20 years of fraud fighting experience within the Financial Services and Payments industry. Before entering the healthcare sector, Chris acquired expertise related to credit/debit/prepaid cards, digital payments, mobile wallet, Buy Now Pay Later, and consumer banking and loan products by serving in key leadership roles in FinTech (PayPal), as well as banking (Capital One, Chase, Citi.)
A frequent industry speaker and panelist on fraud and financial crime topics, his education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Widener University, a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice and Homeland Security from Wilmington University and achievement of the CFE credential, as a Certified Fraud Examiner.
02
03
Ron Long
Financial Institutions and the Fight Against Elder Financial Exploitation
Ron retired in 2022 as the Head of Aging Client Services for Wells Fargo. In that role, he worked with all of Wells Fargo’s business units to help them stay abreast of the changing regulatory environment on issues related to the aging client and Elder Financial Exploitation (“EFE”). As part of this work, Ron visited regulators and agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, ensuring their awareness
of the challenges facing the older banking and brokerage client, and helping promote solutions that will protect them from EFE.
Ron is a fixture on the lecture circuit and has been a thought leader in the EFE space for decades. He has been asked to share his expertise at conferences hosted by the Institutes of Medicine, the American Society on Aging, the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics, and the White House Conference on Aging, among others. He sat for interviews related to EFE with the financial media and mainstream publications and has authored several comment letters and white papers in the aging area. In 2015, he chaired SIFMA’s State Legislation and Regulation Committee.
Ron worked with the SEC as an attorney in the Division of Enforcement beginning in 1990. In that role, he investigated accounting fraud and insider trading cases. In 1994, he became Counselor to SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt, where he provided
guidance to the Chairman on SEC enforcement matters and certain rulemaking issues. In 1997, Ron attained the title District Administrator and for five years ran the SEC’s Philadelphia District Office. The 72-person office had jurisdiction over regulatory and enforcement programs in five Mid-Atlantic States and the District of Columbia. The team examined and inspected broker dealers, investment companies and investment advisers. He was chosen as one of 12 Influencers in Aging for 2019 by the publication NextAvenue and this year NASAA bestowed him with its Investor Champion Award. Ron graduated from Williams College and received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Michael Hagenlock
The Role of APS in Elder Abuse Investigations
Michael Hagenlock LCSW, LAC: Michael is the current Chief Financial Officer for the National Adult
Protective Services Association (NAPSA). Michael served as the Bureau Chief for Montana Adult Protective Services before retirement in 2021. While in this role Michael was part of the team to help with national APS guidelines, NAMRS project and several local and state programs. Michael has served on the education committee for NAPSA, elected as the treasure and then president of NAPSA. Michael has trained in Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART) Training, Montana Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Training. Michael has completed training in the NAPSA Core Competencies as well as basic
and advanced interviewing and interrogation techniques. Completed Specialized training for Guardianship Investigators and completed the Psychological First Aid (PFA) program for disasters. Michael has worked in law enforcement as lieutenant for the Gallatin County Detention Center, worked as the Misdemeanor Probation and Pretrial officer and has served as the Director of a secure unit working with individuals diagnosed with developmentally/intellectually disabilities and struggling with behavioral health related issues. Michael has received the NAPSA Presidential award and was awarded
the Montana Innovated Community Improvement Award for Elder Justice. Michael continues to serve as a member of the Montana Elder Justice Counsel, the National Association for Social Workers, and the National Guardian Association. Michael has an associate degree with a focus in accounting, a bachelor’s degree in sociology/criminal Justice and a master’s degree in social work. Michael is a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed addiction counselor in Montana.
04
Dr. David P. Weber
The Role of a Forensic Accountant in Financial Exploitation Investigations
Dr. David P. Weber teaches forensic accounting and fraud examination at the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University. He focuses on accounting organizational behavior, mainly, on why people engage in financial misconduct in the world at large. Weber is spearheading Salisbury's fraud examination experiential learning program, in which students assist in actual investigations and prosecutions of financial crime on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, primarily those concerning elder financial exploitation and high-tech crime.
In September 2022 and August 2023, the United States government awarded Weber a multi-million dollar grant to support the fraud examination experiential learning program. Weber holds a doctorate from the University of Florida, and a law degree from Syracuse University. Prior to academia, he concluded his federal service as the Chief Investigator of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He is a licensed attorney (MD, VA, DC and NY), forensic accountant, certified fraud examiner, and registered private investigator.
05
Crimson Barocca
The Forensic Interview & Elder Abuse Investigations
Crimson Barocca, MSW, LCSW-C, is the Manager of Forensic Interview Research & Education at Center for Hope. She has been at Center for Hope for the last 14 years; however, she began her career 20 years ago in public child welfare. Crimson is now a dedicated leader, international expert, and developer of innovative evidenced based practice. She is the creator and administrator of an internationally recognized evidenced based forensic interviewing model, Forensic Interview Toolbox (FIT) used with individuals across the lifespan. She is the founder and director of a novel forensic interview program uniting research and practice to educate professionals and understand child and adult experiences in forensic contexts. Crimson is a researcher, expert witness, reviewer, and consultant on topics of forensic interviewing, child abuse investigations and sexual abuse dynamics. Crimson received her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Maryland and is a licensed clinical social worker.
06
Glen Fitzmartin
The Billy Chemirmir Case Study
Glen Fitzmartin is a Deputy Administrator at the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office. He supervises all of the felony trial courts, the White Collar Crime, Elder Abuse, Fraud, Gang,
Community Response, and Organized Crime Units and the Investigator Corps. He has tried hundreds of cases, many of them high profile. Glen received his B.A. from Spring Hill College
and his J.D. from SMU. He joined the Dallas DA’s Office in 1997. After four years and rising to the level of a felony prosecutor, he left the office to start his own law practice. In 2006, Glen was
appointed Judge of Dallas County Criminal Court #3 to fulfill the unexpired term of the then vacated seat. In 2007, he returned to the Dallas County DA’s Office as a felony prosecutor. While at the office, he has served in the family violence division, as deputy chief of misdemeanor, and chief of the Cold Case Unit. Glen speaks on numerous occasions covering many different topics in the field of criminal law. He currently serves as the Chair of the Training
Committee for the Texas District and Count Attorney's Association.
07
Det. Paul Martinez
The Billy Chemirmir Case Study
Detective Martinez began his career with the Plano Police Department as a detention officer in 1996. He became a Peace Officer in 1998. Detective Martinez was selected to join the Narcotics Unit in 2002 where he served as an Overdose Investigator. He joined the Neighborhood Patrol Officer Unit (NPO) in 2008. In 2013, Detective Martinez began working in the Crimes Against Persons Unit (CAPers) where he investigated multiple violent crimes, death investigations including homicides, and a mass murder. Detective Martinez is currently assigned to the newly created Special Victims Unit (SVU) which focuses on sex related offenses against children and adults.
08
Agenda
Nov 18, 2024
7:30am - 9:00am
Name Badge Pickup & Information Desk, Breakfast Buffet
9:00am - 9:15am
Opening
9:15am - 10:15am
Lessons Learned on a 20 Year Journey of Prosecuting Elder Abuse Cases
Paul Greenwood, Retired San Diego Prosecutor
Former career prosecutor Paul Greenwood will draw upon his 22 years of prosecuting serious elder abuse cases to share important lessons that he has learned in the courtroom. He will describe some of the barriers to successful investigation that may explain why many legitimate complaints of abuse, neglect or exploitation never end up in court. Greenwood will also emphasize the importance of networking to underscore his belief that effective methods to counteract this escalating crime call for a multi-disciplinary approach. Throughout the presentation Greenwood will share practical examples of what worked and will deliver a message of optimism and a challenge to energize communities in finding solutions to the “crime of the 21st century.”
10:15am -10:30am
Coffee Break
10:30am - 11:45am
When Injuries Speak: Forensic Wound ID of Possible Abuse & Neglect of Vulnerable Person
Maryland Office of the Attorney General
Abuse/neglect of vulnerable adults is one of the most underreported crimes across this country. Every day in community settings, nursing homes, assisted living and developmentally disabled group homes, abuse and neglect are occurring. When reports of possible neglect or abuse is made to law enforcement, it is your responsibility to properly investigate and prosecute when needed. We will discuss some of the more common injuries occurring including burns, submersion burns, slaps, spiral fractures, and overmedicating. How best to interview the victim and the facility documents to request via subpoena as your investigation progresses.
11:45 AM - 1:00AM
Lunch
1:00pm - 2:00pm
The Role of a Forensic Accountant in Financial Exploitation Investigations
Dr. David Weber, CFE, Salisbury University, Purdue School of Business
Increasingly, the field of financial investigations, also known as forensic accounting, has become a critical skillset. Fraud examiners and forensic accountants are the bloodhounds of white-collar crime, including financial and digital exploitation cases. They are capable of investigating the who, what, when, where and why of all modern financial crimes, including those involving computers, mobile devices and cryptocurrency. In this engaging presentation, you will be introduced to the fraud and forensic accounting profession, and how their skills are used in financial exploitation and high-tech crime against elders and vulnerable adults. Dr. Weber will discuss how the program he leads, the Fraud and Forensic Accounting Certificate Program at Salisbury University is supporting the fight against financial exploitation and high-tech crime on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Through generous grants, the program is matching forensics students with state and local law enforcement to provide the financial and digital forensics skill set. With an eye towards replicating the forensic accounting partnerships of the Eastern Shore, Dr. Weber will provide attendees with the initial knowledge to create partnerships within their own communities.
2:15pm - 3:15pm
Investigative Documentation: Is This a Fact?
Barbara Pratt, Curriculum Developer, VA Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Joint investigations of cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation by law enforcement and APS are considered best practice. The goal for law enforcement is a succesful prosecution. APS is focused on stopping ort preventing future maltreatment , with or without criminal charges. The session will focus on writing comprehensive, clear, and balanced APS investigative documentation that could support possible legal action. We will use examples and group exercises to illustrate what is a factual statement. Conversely, we will identify when case notes are instead a supported professional opinion , assessment, or conclusion. We will consider common alleged perpetrators explanations snd specific questions to ask to determine the credibility of the information.
3:15pm - 3:30pm
Stretch Break
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Elder Abuse Guide for Law Enforcement (EAGLE)
Barbara Pratt, Curriculum Developer, VA Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
By virtue of U.S. demographics, elder abuse is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States. Elder Abuse Guide for Law enforcement (EAGLE) is a national web module designed to support officers in identifying, intervenening, and resolving cases of elder abuse
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Networking Reception
Nov 19,2024
9:00am - 10:30am
Case Study: The Prosecution of Billy Chermimir
Glen Fitzmartin, Deputy Administrator, Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
Detective Paul Martinez, Plano Police Department
Sgt. Kelly Pagel, Richardson Police Department
Billy Chemirmir was accused of posing as a medical professional or maintenance person and gaining access to the properties of at least twenty-two elderly women and smothering them with a pillow. Most of Chemirmir's victims lived in apartments at independent living communities for older adults. Among the women he’s accused of killing in private homes is the widow of a man he had cared for while working as an at-home caregiver. Chemirmir was ultimately indicted on 22 capital murder charges, 13 in Dallas County and nine in nearby Collin County and convicted of two. The presentation by DA Fitzmartin, Detective Martinez, and Sgt. Pagel will give an in-depth look at the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Chemirmir.
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Coffee Break
10:45am - 11:45am
Financial Institutions and the Fight Against Elder Financial Exploitation
Ron Long, National Authority on Elder Investor Fraud
This session will describe the traditional role financial institutions play in the lives of older persons and how they are working to help combat elder financial abuse. It will also talk through some challenges aging advocates have with these institutions and some potential solutions.
11:45am - 1:00pm
Lunch
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) Program
Laura Richardson, Bank Act Secrecy Act Consultant to the CFPB
Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Senior Policy Analyst, Office for Older Americans, CFPB
Under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), financial institutions are federally required to file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to report transactions that the filer knows or suspects to be related to a wide variety of criminal offenses. SARs on potential elder financial exploitation can be a critical investigative tool for law enforcement and prosecutors to gather evidence, identify patterns, and connect dots. Social services organizations don’t have access to SARs, nor do all law enforcement agencies. But awareness of SARs can inform their coordination with law enforcement and prosecutors using SARs. This session will explain the basics of the financial industry’s SAR reporting practices, and present trends in EFE SARs. We will discuss promising practices in using SARs effectively for law enforcement case initiation and development.
2:15pm - 3:15pm
The Role of APS
Michael Hagenlock, MSW, LCSW, LAC, CFO National Adult Protective Services Association
The criminal justice system and APS are natural allies who are best able to meet needs when they collaborate. Effective collaboration requires that APS professionals and Law enforcement understand the roles, authority, guiding principles, and language to create respectful partnerships. APS and the criminal justice system professionals address allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults and people with disabilities. As APS professionals, we deal with these allegations daily. The criminal justice system often has less expertise in handling cases involving older adults and adults with a disability and often lacks training in the dynamics of these cases. APS professionals and criminal justice system professionals also focus on different things. You already know your role of the criminal justice system, we will focus on APS’s role, and priorities which is investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and working with the person, when possible, to stabilize the situation and reduce the risk for future abuse or neglect. The focus is on the person. APS programs across the country are receiving increased reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation (Adult Maltreatment). Some of these reports include acts that may be criminal. At the same time, more and more jurisdictions are enacting laws that criminalize acts committed in the types of cases that APS investigates. The criminal justice system operates under its laws, principles, and procedures, which are very different from APS and can be confusing when working cases together. This training is designed to help Law enforcement and APS professionals develop or enhance their understanding and appreciation for the civil and criminal justice system role. career prosecutor Paul Greenwood will draw upon his 22 years of prosecuting serious elder abuse cases to share important lessons that he has learned in the courtroom. He will describe some of the barriers to successful investigation that may explain why many legitimate complaints of abuse, neglect or exploitation never end up in court. Greenwood will also emphasize the importance of networking to underscore his belief that effective methods to counteract this escalating crime call for a multi-disciplinary approach. Throughout the presentation Greenwood will share practical examples of what worked and will deliver a message of optimism and a challenge to energize communities in finding solutions to the “crime of the 21st century.”
3:15pm - 3:30pm
Break
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Federal Elder Abuse and Exploitation Resources and Investigations
Courtney l. Mulholland, U.S. Postal Inspector Greenwood, Retired San Diego Prosecutor
An in-depth presentation from the United States Postal Service on how Federal Elder Abuse and Financial Exploitation cases are investigated and prosecuted. This session will also include an overview on how law enforcement can make referrals to federal agencies for review. Inspector Mulholland will give an update on current financial exploitation and fraud trends that are occuring in the United States. career prosecutor Paul Greenwood will draw upon his 22 years of prosecuting serious elder abuse cases to share important lessons that he has learned in the courtroom. He will describe some of the barriers to successful investigation that may explain why many legitimate complaints of abuse, neglect or exploitation never end up in court. Greenwood will also emphasize the importance of networking to underscore his belief that effective methods to counteract this escalating crime call for a multi-disciplinary approach. Throughout the presentation Greenwood will share practical examples of what worked and will deliver a message of optimism and a challenge to energize communities in finding solutions to the “crime of the 21st century.”
Nov 20, 2024
9:00am - 10:15am
Non-Traditional, Trans-National Organized Crime and how they Target Older Adults
Dale Morgan, President, National Association of Bunco Investigators (NABI)
This presentation will focus on nontraditional organized crime and nomadic organized criminals. These groups have identified subcultures which the FBI has identified as criminal groups identifying themselves as Travelers, Gypsies, Romanian Nationals, and other theft groups that target the elderly. The presentation will delve into the types of confidence schemes employed by these groups, the wealth associated with this type of organized crime, subculture characteristics, and issues with prosecution such as challenges with victims, witnesses, identification, extradition, education, and non-violent crime. Furthermore, the presentation will explore what tactics the criminals employ to ensure the success of these scams. It will address a comprehensive solution involving the collaboration of various entities such as the media, APS, local law enforcement, the FBI, and financial institutions.
10:15am - 10:30am
Coffee Break
10:30am - 11:45am
Hiding in Plain Sight: Older Adults Benefit Tracking
Jordan Satinsky, Captain, Montgomery County Police Department
An emerging type of trafficking is targeting overlooked at-risk adults. Benefits Trafficking is the systematic recruitment, harboring, neglect, and financial exploitation of elder and disabled adults who receive government benefits such as Social Security, Veteran's Benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare. Traffickers often pose as kind-hearted individuals offering to provide care for at-risk adults in an in-home setting. Once recruited, at-risk adults are stripped of their government benefits, held against their will, moved from location to location, and denied basic needs such as food, clothing, and adequate shelter. While Benefits Trafficking is a basic civil rights violation issue, it is also a growing public health issue. Victims of Benefits Trafficking are often the forgotten at-risk adults who have fallen through the cracks of various mental health systems, are unhoused, and no longer have a social support system in place.
11:45am - 1:00pm
Lunch Provided
1:00pm - 2:00pm
The Forensic Interview & Elder Abuse Investigations
Dr. Crimson Barocca
The forensic interview, historically used in child maltreatment investigations, has rarely been used as a trauma technique with older adults. Learn about the value of forensic interviews for gathering reliable and detailed information from adult victims. You will learn forensic interview techniques to address the physical and emotional needs of the individual and how this lends to them providing more complete statements. This session will provide an overview of a phased approach to interviewing and best practice question types.
2:15pm - 3:15pm
AI meets AARP: The new frontier of Elder Fraud
Christopher DeAngelis, ZELIS, VP of Enterprise Fraud Strategy
Older adults have long been targets of fraud and exploitation by bad actors. Now, the rapid advancement in AI technology is making this vulnerable population even more exploitable. While some new and unique schemes have emerged, the more significant impact is coming from the improvement and sophistication to existing methods that AI brings to the table. It is not only helping unknown third parties commit these crimes but also providing unscrupulous caregivers and family members with the means to do it more often, and in more damaging ways.
3:15pm - 3:30pm
Closing
DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia
5485 Twin Knolls Rd.
Columbia, MD 21045
Columbia, Maryland boasts a thriving tech industry, plenty of fun things to do, warm summers, access to both Baltimore and the national capital, convenient public transportation options, and proximity to numerous schools and universities. Located along the Baltimore-Washington corridor, Columbia is a planned community of ten villages. Nestled among several lakes, homes in Columbia offer the charm of a small town while providing access to the amenities of major cities.
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