2 former long-term care workers deposited residents' money into their own accounts, police say

Hamilton police say they have arrested two former long-term care home employees that deposited cheques from elderly residents into their own bank accounts. The two men have been charged with fraud and other offences after an investigation by the department's Crimes Against Seniors Unit. 

Police say they began investigating after the long-term care home, which they have declined to name publicly, and the families of the victims reported the incidents. They say the families and home have co-operated with investigators in a probe they describe as "lengthy." They have not stated how much was stolen or if any money was recovered.

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, police arrested and charged the two men, a registered nurse (RN) and a personal support worker (PSW) who were no longer employed at the facility at the time of their arrests.

Police say the PSW deposited multiple cheques from two residents of the home into his personal bank account between January and October last year, and the RN deposited one cheque into his own account in February.

The 44-year-old PSW from Hamilton is charged with fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.

The 32-year-old RN, from Guelph, is charged with fraud under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Police say they have informed the College of Nurses of Ontario of the charges.

Arrests follow another support worker charged with fraud

These arrests come the same month police arrested a support worker at Community Living of Hamilton, alleging she stole more than $277,000 from clients with developmental disabilities.

That worker, a 44-year-old woman, was arrested on June 19 and charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, police said Tuesday. 

She was caring for residents at Community Living of Hamilton — a not-for-profit organization that assists people with development disabilities — from Dec. 15, 2022 to Jan. 16, 2025, said police. 

She "was able to gain access to the residents' bank accounts for the purposes of assisting them with their finances," police said. "Then she took money for her own personal use."