South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Latoya L. Fennell, a 49-year-old Certified Nurse Aide from Early Branch, S.C., following allegations of physical abuse against a resident at an assisted living facility.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, Fennell was taken into custody at the Beaufort County Detention Center on January 22, 2026. The charges stem from an incident on October 31, 2025, when investigators allege that Fennell intentionally slapped a resident in the face while working at The Addison of Bluffton. The victim was identified as a vulnerable adult under state law and was residing at the facility in Bluffton.
The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit and the Bluffton Police Department. Staff at The Addison of Bluffton reported the incident to authorities promptly and cooperated fully with investigators.
“This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office,” according to officials. “Pursuant to federal regulations, VAMPF has authority over Medicaid provider fraud; abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting; and the abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals residing in assisted living facilities or nursing homes.”
Attorney General Wilson emphasized due process: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (VAMPF) is funded primarily through federal grants provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for fiscal year 2026, with additional support from state funds.
