The West Palm Beach Police Department has made public the arrest of 45-year-old Megan Elizabeth Bernat of Port St. Lucie on serious felony charges, involving the financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled adult totaling over $50,000, as reported yesterday. This arrest follows an investigation into allegations of financial misconduct at a senior living facility in West Palm Beach where Bernat worked as a case manager.
Upon delving into the case, detectives unearthed a trail of unauthorized personal expenses charged to a resident’s bank account by Bernat, these expenses spanned from gas and groceries to car repairs and even pet care; the total losses to the victim are said to reach $68,600 over several years. According to the West Palm Police Department news release, the official charges against Bernat include two felony counts of criminal use of personal identification information, one count of exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult, and one money laundering charge for transactions between $20,000 and $100,000.
“Exploiting the most vulnerable members of our community will not be tolerated,” stated Lt. William DeVito in a public announcement, emphasizing the West Palm Police Department’s commitment to prosecuting those who abuse positions of trust. In light of the situation, the police department is calling on the public to be alert for signs of financial exploitation and to report any related concerns promptly, directing them to the local Crime Stoppers…