Four operators charged

A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Texas indicted Donella Locke, Suekya Whitney, Shakoya Crenshaw and Krystle Locke on August 26 in two related fraud cases.

Unlicensed homes, vulnerable residents

Prosecutors say the four ran unlicensed boarding homes across North Texas and used positions of trust to exploit elderly and vulnerable people living there.

A 79-year-old's house sold

Three defendants allegedly took power of attorney over a resident identified as W.S., then arranged for her longtime Garland home to be sold to Whitney and Crenshaw.

Where the money went

More than $156,000 in sale proceeds allegedly moved through several accounts, with $147,000 landing with Donella Locke, who used it to buy another home.

The lie to the lenders

Capital Fund 1 and CrossCountry Mortgage were allegedly told the sale was at arm's length and the money was a gift from her daughter. Each false-statement count carries up to 30 years.

Benefits taken after a death

Krystle Locke allegedly applied for Social Security disability and SSI for resident S.T., redirected the payments to her own account, and kept withdrawing after S.T. died on October 19, 2024.

More than $50,000 gone

Records allegedly show over $44,000 deposited in October 2024 alone, with the total exceeding $50,000. She faces up to 10 years per theft count plus a mandatory two years.

“Social Security is not a personal piggy bank to exploit at the expense of the American taxpayer.”

Still only an allegation

The FBI, Social Security and VA inspectors general, and the Texas AG's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated. All four defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.