Spartanburg man charged with stealing more than $10,000 from vulnerable adult

A joint investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the South Carolina Attorney General's Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud unit (VAMPF) has led to the arrest of a Spartanburg man. Willie Herndon, 68, is accused of stealing more than $10,000 from a vulnerable adult.

Herndon is charged with one count of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, one count of breach of trust with fraudulent intent, and one count of crimes against a federally chartered or insured financial institution. Herndon is behind bars at the Spartanburg County Detention Center.

Investigators say that from March 18, 2024 - Feb. 20, 2025, Herndon made unlawful, unauthorized, or improper use of the funds and assets of a vulnerable adult. Herndon, with fraudulent intent, and while entrusted with the funds and assets of the victim, allegedly misappropriated over $10,000 from the victim’s bank account for his own personal use with the purpose of depriving the victim of the funds.
 
Herndon is also accused of, under false representation, endorsing and depositing a VA pension check made payable to the victim into the victim’s Founders Federal Credit Union account, which Herndon had control over. It is alleged that Herndon then spent the victim’s deposited VA funds for his own personal use.
 
The victim is said to have been a resident of either Magnolia Manor in Inman or Wesley Court Assisted Living in Boiling Springs at the time of the alleged misconduct.
 
Exploitation of a vulnerable adult is a felony and has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Breach of trust, value $10,000 or more, is a felony and carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison or a fine at the discretion of the court. Crimes against a federally chartered or insured financial institution also is a felony and has a penalty of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. 

The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's office.