Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The owner of a professional accounting service in Salt Lake City has been charged with collecting money intended to pay the bills of vulnerable clients and using it instead for other people.
Janine Marie McCauley, 47, of Murray, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with 10 counts of unlawful dealing of property by a fiduciary and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, second-degree felonies.
McCauley is the "owner and operator of Simplified Business Solutions, (and) was entrusted to serve as a fiduciary for 76 vulnerable individuals," according to charging documents that represent alleged crimes against 10 of those clients.
From approximately March 1, 2019, through April 14, 2022, McCauley received Medicaid funds to help pay her clients' bills, "and then failed to meet the financial needs of the vulnerable individuals. Instead, (she) commingled funds and used the money for herself or someone other than the vulnerable individuals. (McCauley) failed to pay for rent, utility bills, and personal necessities on behalf of the vulnerable individuals, leaving them in debt and in need of new fiduciaries," the charges state. "(She) did not maintain reconciled financial statements, keep accurate records of all deposits and expenditures, maintain verifiable receipts, or comply with Social Security Administration representative payee and Medicaid requirements."
In some cases, McCauley also received a client's Social Security income as well as COVID-19 stimulus checks in addition to Medicaid payments, the charges state. But rather than pay her client's rent and utility bills, prosecutors say that money was used to benefit someone else.
One woman was left "unable to pay her bills or buy Christmas gifts for (her) grandchildren (and) had to borrow money from her daughter for personal essentials," according to the charges.
Another man was forced to move out of his assisted living facility because he fell behind on rent, the charges allege. That man "is cognitively unable to comprehend the totality of the situation, but his sister continues to receive collection notices."
Other victims also reported being months behind on their bills. Prosecutors say one woman "has continued to make payments to try to pay these bills, but (she) still owes a great deal of money," according to the charges. Another man has since gotten a new person to help handle his finances, "but the unpaid bills remain extensive."
Another woman "learned that her rent and chiropractor bills had not been paid and had to obtain financial assistance from her daughter," the charges say.
In yet another example, prosecutors say a man who suffered a brain injury is also months behind in paying his bills and "had to use part of his inheritance to get by."
McCauley's initial court appearance is scheduled for March 21.
