OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — An Oshkosh man is charged with the theft of over $427,000 from a 92-year-old resident of a nursing home.
Attorney General Josh Kaul said the charges are against 58-year-old Terry Lynn Culver of Oshkosh. These charges are the result of a joint elder abuse and tax fraud investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR).
“Reports of elder abuse in Wisconsin have been rising for years,” said Attorney General Kaul. “We must continue working to fight elder abuse both through prevention and by holding offenders accountable.”
According to the criminal complaint, Culver acted as a power of attorney for the victim who was forced to move into a nursing home. Culver took over $427,000 from the victim's bank accounts which was spent on home improvements as well as at bars, restaurants, and casinos as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada.
The complaint also alleges that Culver sold multiple pieces of the victim's real estate, took possession of the victim's house through a quit claim deed, as well as filed false and fraudulent tax returns with the Department of Revenue for five years.
The DOJ said the case is being investigated by its Division of Criminal Investigations as well as the DOR Office of Criminal Investigations. Culver is being prosecuted by DOJ Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit Assist Attorney General Daniel P. Lennington. The DOJ is also providing victim services.
Wisconsinites can help fight patient and elder abuse by reporting it online at www.ReportElderAbuseWI.org or by calling 1-833-586-0107.
