NORTHERN UTAH — A man has been convicted on numerous felony counts relating to exploitation of vulnerable adults after he used his position with a company offering services to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities to use client funds to purchase things for himself, including a trip to Las Vegas, tickets to a Justin Timberlake concert, and nearly $400 worth of shoes.
According to a press release from the Utah Attorney General’s Office, Jordan Jeffery Jack of Clearfield has been convicted on the following counts: seven counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult as third degree felonies, one count of communications fraud as a second-degree felony, and one count of theft by deception as a class B misdemeanor.
According to court documents and the press release from the AG’s Office, Jack was an area director the Utah-based business Chrysalis, which “focuses on serving and supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live a fulfilling life in the community.”
The company contracts with different agencies to provide various essential services, which includes things like a money management system for Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps and Housing Assistance Programs.
The company has an internal accounting program to manage clients’ Social Security and other income, and client funds are deposited into a general bank account. Accountants for the company then pay the clients’ rent, utilities, medical costs and other bills from that general account while providing each client with a monthly statement.
An area director noticed discrepancies in the statements of several clients, and after further investigation determined Jack had allegedly purchased items for himself with client funds, reproduced fraudulent receipts and payee statements, and submitted “corrected statements” in an effort to conceal the discrepancies. The director found more than $10,000 in allegedly fraudulent transactions involving nine clients between April 2012 and January of 2014–with the majority of the thefts occurring in November and December of 2013
Lead Prosecutor and Assistant Attorney General Kay Lynn Wootton stated in the press release Jack splurged on himself at the cost of his clients.
“[Jordan Jack] stole from disabled clients so he could buy luxury items like a trip to Vegas, a Justin Timberlake concert and nearly $400 in tennis shoes,” she stated. “He was no ‘Jean Valjean.’”
State officials pointed out the clients Jordan stole from were very vulnerable.
“Because of their disability none of the victims were able to testify in court. They were completely unaware that a caretaker, entrusted with their money, was stealing from them,” stated Robert Steed, Director of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, in the press release from the Attorney General’s Office.
Authorities stated documents and evidence indicate Jordan stole from more than 14 residents of the group homes he supervised. The man is scheduled to be sentenced October 7.
