The Attorney General’s Office announced that Kathryn Flynn, 71, of Essex, Vermont, and Yoanna Vaughan, 37, of Colchester, Vermont, have plead guilty to charges stemming from their mistreatment of a vulnerable adult. While Ms. Vaughn pled guilty before Judge Michael Harris and was sentenced on July 30, 2024, and Ms. Flynn pled guilty and was sentenced yesterday before Judge John L. Pacht.
The charges brought against Ms. Flynn and her co-conspirator, Ms. Vaughan are the result of an investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) and Adult Protective Services, which found Ms. Flynn, under the guise of a program of care, recklessly abused and unlawfully restrained a vulnerable adult, who Ms. Flynn had guardianship over. Co-Defendant, Ms. Vaughan, was hired by Ms. Flynn as an Applied Behavioral Analyst to oversee this fraudulent program of care, while she was unlicensed and billing Vermont Medicaid for services.
Ms. Flynn plead guilty to Unauthorized Practice, Abuse of Vulnerable Adult and Abuse by Unlawful Confinement and was sentenced to a prison sentence of 18-24 months, all suspended, with five years of probation. Ms. Flynn will be under the supervision of the Vermont Probation and Parole Office and may not work with, care for, or have unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults, must participate in the Restorative Justice Program, must complete 160 hours of community service, and must participate in mental health counseling.
Ms. Vaughan plead guilty to Unlicensed Practice on July 30, 2024, and received a deferred sentence for three years. During that period, Ms. Vaughan will be under the supervision of the Vermont Probation and Parole Office and must not work with, care for, or have unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults, must participate in the Restorative Justice Program, must complete 50 hours of community service, and must participate in mental health counseling. In addition, Ms. Vaughan was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,000 to the Vermont Medicaid program.
At the sentencing for Flynn, the victim gave a powerful statement about the abuse she faced as a result of the defendants’ conduct and how she is thriving in her new environment.
If you suspect someone is being or has been neglected or abused, contact local law enforcement immediately. Neglect and abuse may also be reported to Adult Protective Services by calling 800-564-1612 and MFRAU at https://ago.vermont.gov/medicaid-fraud-report-form/.
The Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $1,332,724 for Federal fiscal year FY 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $444,241 for FY 2025, is funded by the State of Vermont.
CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Outreach and Communications Coordinator, 802-828-3171