Tuscaloosa Woman Charged With Stealing $24,000 from Veteran at Group Home

A Tuscaloosa woman was arrested this week after an investigation found that she allegedly exploited an elderly veteran living at the group home she operates for more than $24,000.

In a deposition filed on Friday, police said Shawanda Taylor operates a residential care home for veterans in West Tuscaloosa.

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Police said an advocate from an outside organization contacted the Tuscaloosa Police Department and said they suspect Taylor had stolen a large amount of money from an elderly man living there.

TPD found that Taylor allegedly accessed the patient's financial accounts and spent $24,112 of the man's Social Security money.

The victim reportedly has a conservator, whom Taylor reportedly bypassed before fraudulently obtaining power of attorney and accessing his financial accounts. The 53-year-old Tuscaloosa spent the money on personal expenses and other things unrelated to the patient she allegedly exploited, police said.

Taylor was arrested and charged with first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly, a Class B felony, and first-degree exploitation of assets, a Class C felony.

Her combined bond was set at $7,500, and Taylor has been released from custody since her Friday arrest.

For more coverage of crime and courts in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.