Carrollton woman charged with financial exploitation – again
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By Carmen Ensinger
A Carrollton woman is now facing charges in Jersey County for financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person after similar charges were filed in Greene County last year.
Sarah R. Baumgartner, 45, of Carrollton was charged with two counts of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly/Disabled person in the amount of $300 to $5,000, one count of Forgery and two counts of Unlawful Possession of the Credit/Debit Card of Another.
These crimes allegedly occurred while she was acting as caregiver for two individuals residing in Jersey County.
According to the charging documents, Baumgartner on or about April 1, 2023 to May 15, 2023, while in her role as caregiver to a disabled man with cerebral palsy and wheelchair bound, obtained control over the debit card of the individual and used the card to defraud the Jersey State Bank of an amount between $300 and $5,000.
The second financial exploitation charge alleges that she, while in the role of caregiver to a person over the age of 60, obtained control over a credit card and used said card to defraud the credit card company and the defendant of an amount between $300 and $5,000
The forgery charge alleges that Baumgartner knowingly altered a check owned by the defendant to write a check to herself in the amount of $2,000 and signed the defendant’s name to the check.
The two unlawful possession of a credit/debit card allege that Baumgartner obtained control over the debit card of each of the above defendants for the purpose of obtaining U.S. currency.
Baumgartner faces numerous charges in Greene County as well. Between the months of September and December of 2023, she was charged with two counts of Financial Exploitation and three counts of Forgery.
In May of 2024, she was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine. Possessing Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Reduce Speed, Unlicensed, Expiration of Registration and Operating an Uninsured Motor Vehicle.
Then, in January of this year, she was charged with Unlawful Interference with a Public Utility.
The Financial Exploitation and Forgery charges are a Class 3 felony, punishable by a term of two to five years in the Department of Corrections plus six months mandatory supervised release. (MSR). It is also a probational offense for a period not to exceed 30 months, periodic imprisonment for 18 months and a fine not to exceed $25,00.
The Unlawful Possession of the credit or debit card of another is a Class 4 felony, punishable by one to three years in the DOC or a one-to-six-year extended term.
The Jersey County charges were presented by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and is being handled by the office’s Medicaid Fraud Control unit.
