Erica S. Rose, Identity Theft, Illinois 2023

East St. Louis Caretaker Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Identities of Elderly Clients

A woman who abused her employment with an in-home health care company and stole the identities of her elderly clients is heading to prison. Erica S. Rose, 31, of East Saint Louis, Illinois, was sentenced today to one year and one day in federal prison and two years of court supervision after her release.

Rose pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft last November. In 2018, Rose worked for a company called CareLink and gained access to the homes of her elderly victims as their hired caretaker. While inside, she stole social security numbers and other identifying information and passed the stolen information along to her co-defendant, Ashley McKinney.

McKinney allegedly used victims’ funds and identities to withdraw money from ATMs, deposit fraudulent checks, and even purchase a car online for over $28,000. There is an outstanding warrant for McKinney’s arrest in this case.

As part of her sentence, Rose was ordered to pay $9,864.71 in restitution. The investigation was conducted by detectives from the Edwardsville Police Department, Belleville Police Department, Swansea Police Department, and St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler.

The crimes committed by Rose and her accomplice have left many elderly victims vulnerable to financial loss and identity theft. This case highlights the importance of vigilance and the need for law enforcement to investigate and prosecute such cases.

The case against Rose serves as a warning to others who would abuse their positions of trust for personal gain. The people of Illinois deserve to have faith in their institutions and those who serve them.

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