Attorney General's News Release

May 3, 2006

Former St. Louis nursing home administrator arrested, charged with taking money from resident trust funds

Jefferson City, Mo. — A former administrator at a St. Louis nursing and rehabilitation center was arrested Tuesday (May 2) and charged with 19 felony counts alleging she stole money from the trust funds of residents of the center. JoAnn T. Gaylor (DOB - 10/10/53), of St. Louis, was charged in an indictment returned by a St. Louis City grand jury at the request of Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon and St. Louis City Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce.

JoAnn T. Gaylor
Charged with 19 felony counts

Gaylor faces 18 counts of abuse of a person receiving health care, which each count charging that she abused a person or persons receiving health care through the Missouri Medicaid program by taking possession of at least $500 from their resident trust funds without their consent.

The other charge is one of stealing by deceit. That charge alleges Gaylor appropriated at least $500 in resident trust funds from a trust fund held by her employer, Grand Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 3645 Cook Avenue, St. Louis.

Gaylor appeared before St. Louis City Associate Circuit Judge Michael K. Mullen, Division 25, on Tuesday; her bond has been set at $75,000. She is next scheduled to appear before Judge Mullen on June 22.

Abuse of a person receiving health care and stealing by deceit are both Class C felonies under Missouri law, with each count being punishable upon conviction by up to a prison term of seven years and a fine of $5,000. The charges against the defendant are merely accusations; as in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven otherwise in a court of law.

The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General's Office, formed by Nixon in 1994, has concurrent jurisdiction in prosecuting and investigating cases where the victim is a Medicaid recipient.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818