FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
February 28, 2017
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steven T. Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
Alabama Attorney General
AG STEVEN T. MARSHALL ANNOUNCES ARREST OF A TAMPA MAN FOR
ELDER EXPLOITATION OF RESIDENT IN IRONDALE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
(MONTGOMERY)–Attorney General Steven T. Marshall announced the arrest
yesterday of Mitchell Alton Roddam, 60, of Tampa, Florida, for elder exploitation of his
aunt, who is living in an Irondale assisted living facility. Roddam surrendered at the
Jefferson County Correctional facility.
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit presented evidence to a
Jefferson County grand jury resulting in an indictment* dated February 9 charging
Roddam with first-degree financial exploitation of an elderly person. Roddam obtained
power of attorney over his 94-year-old aunt, in order to handle her affairs when she
entered a Jefferson County assisted living facility in June of 2015. It is alleged that
Roddam misappropriated approximately $85,000 from June of 2015 through October of 2016. Attorneys for the facility contacted the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud
Control Unit, which then initiated an investigation.
Financial exploitation of an elderly person in the first-degree (Ala. Code 1975
ß13A-6-195) provides that any person who breaches their fiduciary duty under a power
of attorney that results in unauthorized appropriations of an elderly person’s property
is guilty of a class B felony if the unauthorized appropriations exceed $2,500. For the
purposes of this statute a person is considered “elderly” if they are older than 60 years
of age. A class B felony carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in the Alabama
Department of Corrections.
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is tasked with investigating
and prosecuting providers who file false claims to the Alabama Medicaid Agency. The
other major function of the unit is to investigate and prosecute allegations of abuse,
neglect and financial exploitation of elderly persons in skilled nursing facilities and
assisted living facilities.
Attorney General Marshall commended the staff and administration of St.
Martins in the Pines for their vigilance, as well his Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for its
investigation leading to the indictment of this individual and for seeking justice for the
elderly resident.
*An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.state.al.us
