BLAIR, NEBRASKA (AUGUST 1, 2024) – Beth Yeates, a 32-year-old woman from Council Bluffs, Iowa, was sentenced on Wednesday for financially exploiting seven developmentally disabled adults living in group homes in Blair, Nebraska. The case, prosecuted by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, sheds light on the vulnerability of disabled individuals and the importance of oversight in care facilities.
Yeates, who worked as a supervisor for DUET (Develop Unite Empower Together), a disability services provider, devised a scheme to defraud her clients. According to the Attorney General’s Office, “She used her credit card to place orders for items intended for residents of these homes. She was reimbursed for the purchases from the disabled adults’ accounts. After she was reimbursed, Yeates would cancel the orders.”
The fraud was uncovered during an audit of the disabled adults’ accounts by DUET supervisors. Upon discovery, they promptly notified Adult Protective Services and local law enforcement.
Initially charged with seven felony counts of intentional exploitation of a vulnerable adult, a Class IIIA felony, Yeates agreed to a plea deal. As part of this agreement, six of the seven counts were dropped.
Washington County District Judge Brian Meismer handed down the sentence, which includes:
- 60 months of probation
- 90 days in jail
- Restitution of $16,876.31 to the victims
- Writing letters of apology to all seven victims
The case was investigated jointly by the Blair Police Department and the Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Unit at the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office.
Mark Fischer of KLKN reported that “Yeates got 90 days in prison, 5 years of probation, and has to pay back $16,876.31 in restitution.” This slight discrepancy in terminology (prison vs. jail) was noted across different reports.
The Daily Nonpareil, based in Council Bluffs, provided local context, noting that Yeates was a resident of their city. They reported that “An audit of the disabled persons’ accounts by Duet discovered the scheme. Her supervisors at Duet notified Adult Protective Services and local law enforcement.”
This case has drawn attention to the need for stringent oversight in care facilities for vulnerable adults. While the financial exploitation was significant, the breach of trust may have even more far-reaching consequences for the victims and their families.
