Two women from Columbia, South Carolina, have been arrested and charged with multiple offenses related to the exploitation of a vulnerable adult. The announcement was made by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, whose office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) conducted the investigation in partnership with the Lexington Police Department.
Shakedda Monike Stokes, 44, and Lanautica Lashay Major, 27, face charges including Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, Crimes against a Federally Chartered or Insured Financial Institution, Obtaining Signature or Property under False Pretenses (valued between $2,000 and $10,000), and Criminal Conspiracy. Both individuals were booked into the Lexington County Detention Center on October 1 and October 2, 2025.
Investigators allege that between December 1, 2024, and January 21, 2025, Major—who worked as a caregiver at Oakleaf Village in Lexington—and Stokes conspired to unlawfully use funds belonging to a vulnerable adult resident. According to authorities, they used the victim’s credit card for unauthorized transactions after obtaining bank account information and misused funds held by First Citizens Bank through false pretenses for personal benefit.
Oakleaf Village reported the incident to law enforcement and cooperated fully during the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Wilson emphasized: “All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.”
The VAMPF unit has jurisdiction over Medicaid provider fraud as well as abuse or exploitation cases involving residents of assisted living facilities or nursing homes. For federal fiscal year 2026, VAMPF receives three-quarters of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant totaling $2.96 million; South Carolina provides the remaining quarter of funding.
