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by ERIN PARROTT
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A South Carolina nurse is facing ten (10) felony charges after investigators say she fraudulently obtained prescription pain medication intended for vulnerable adults at a Midlands long-term care facility.
South Carolina attorney general Alan Wilson announced the arrest of 70-year-old Joanne Claus of Bishopville, S.C., following a joint investigation by his office’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit and the S.C. Department of Public Health’s (SCDPH) Bureau of Drug Control.
Claus – a licensed practical nurse – is charged with five counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult and five counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud.
According to Wilson’s office, Claus was employed as a licensed practical nurse at Karesh Long Term Care and Rehab in Camden, S.C., when she allegedly obtained Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen – a Schedule II controlled substance – from five residents of the facility.
Investigators allege Claus used “misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge” to obtain the medication between April 11, 2026 and July 1, 2026.
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All five residents were legally classified as vulnerable adults under South Carolina law, according to the attorney general’s office.
Under South Carolina law, exploitation of a vulnerable adult is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Obtaining a controlled substance by fraud is also a felony carrying up to five years behind bars, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
Wilson’s VAMPF unit investigates Medicaid provider fraud as well as allegations involving the abuse, neglect or exploitation of vulnerable adults residing in assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The unit also has authority to investigate abuse and neglect of Medicaid beneficiaries in any setting.
Claud was booked into the Kershaw County detention center on Wednesday (September 23, 2026) awaiting prosecution by the S.C. Attorney General’s Office.
As with all criminal defendants, Claus is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
FITSNews will continue monitoring the case and report any significant developments.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Erin Parrott is a Greenville, S.C. native who graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2025 with a bachelor degree in broadcast journalism. Got feedback or a tip for Erin? Email her here.
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