Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte announces that Jacqueline MacDonald, age 39, of Belmont, has been indicted by a Belknap County Grand Jury for allegedly stealing more than $43,000 from a ninety-four year old woman in January of 2008. MacDonald, who provided care for the elderly woman for several years, is charged with taking the money just days before woman entered a nursing home.

The grand jury separately charged MacDonald with filing fraudulent Medicaid applications in September of 2006 and June of 2007 to obtain benefits for herself and her child. In the applications, MacDonald allegedly denied having any income despite allegedly receiving steady income as the elderly woman's caregiver.

Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte said: "My Office will continue to work diligently to protect the State's vulnerable and elderly citizens and also to ensure that the State's welfare benefits such as Medicaid are preserved for those that qualify." The case is being prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Unit, which investigates both healthcare provider fraud and allegations involving the financial exploitation and physical abuse of long-term care residents.