Two Florida residents are facing over a century in prison after state officials discovered a vast, years-long enterprise involving eight unauthorized assisted care facilities. Ronald Keith Pack, 60, and Marie Carenan, 56, have been charged with various felonies for allegedly trapping, abusing, and stealing from elderly and disabled adults through their firms, Cherish Home Care, Inc. and Cherish Independent Living Care, Inc.
According to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the pair accepted vulnerable patients referred by mental and behavioral health facilities. When the patients arrived at the network of houses, Pack and Carenan allegedly stole their identification, Social Security benefits, EBT cards, prescriptions, and personal things.
Investigators claim the properties were significantly modified to limit freedom, including padlocks on doors, windows, refrigerators, and cabinets. Residents were unable to depart freely, manage their own finances, or receive emergency medical care.
“Florida will not stand by while predators pose as caregivers and prey on the elderly and disabled,” Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated. “These defendants are accused of converting houses into prisons, stealing benefits, withholding food and medicine, and exposing victims to deplorable conditions. I applaud the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and our state agencies for their participation in this operation.”
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at many properties in Kissimmee and surrounding areas. The investigation uncovered a long history of problems at the properties, with over 300 calls for service in Osceola County alone. State officials also reported that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) had received numerous complaints about physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, as well as evidence of welfare fraud.
Multiple state authorities participated in the raids and attempted to swiftly remove the victims. DCF Secretary Taylor N. Hatch emphasized the collaborative effort, stating, “The Department played a key role in this operation from the beginning, working closely with our local partners to protect vulnerable adults and ensure that bad actors were held accountable.”
Shevaun Harris, Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), stated, “Those who exploit the elderly and disabled for personal gain have no place in Florida’s health care system. ” I applaud the attorney general for taking prompt action, and AHCA will continue to do all in its power to safeguard vulnerable Floridians.”
The Office of Statewide Prosecution has filed official charges for seven unique felony counts. Pack and Carenan are charged with first-degree felony organized fraud over $20,000 and aggravated abuse of an elderly or disabled adult. They have also been charged with exploitation for more than $10,000, severe neglect, standard abuse and neglect, and public assistance fraud. Prosecutors have filed a motion for pretrial detention, seeking to detain both suspects in jail without bond.
Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Michelle Branham expressed significant worry over the findings, saying that Florida’s elderly “deserve to live their later years with dignity, safety, and peace of mind.” She said it was “deeply troubling that anyone would prey upon that trust through abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.”
Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Bob Asztalos echoed this view, stating that protecting vulnerable adults is “a responsibility we all share” and praising coordinated efforts to hold abusers accountable.
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