Utica, NY - March 21, 2014 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that Aaliyah Weathers, 19, of Utica, NY, was arrested and arraigned March 20 on charges of Falsifying Business Records in the first degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Vulnerable Elderly Person or a Physically Disabled Person in the second degree, Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the second degree, and Willful Violation of Health Laws. She appeared before the Honorable Ralph J. Eannace, Utica City Court judge, and entered a mandatory plea of not guilty. She was released on her own recognizance.
“It is unacceptable that this patient was seriously injured as a result of Ms. Weathers’ negligence, and even more egregious that her suffering was prolonged by Weathers’ failure to report the incident,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “Families should be able to trust that their loved one will receive the best possible care while in a nursing facility. My office will continue to punish to the fullest extent of the law those who jeopardize the well-being of their patients.”
On June 3, 2013, while employed as a certified nurse’s aide at Heritage Health Care Center, Weathers was assigned to care for a 95-year-old resident of the facility who required the assistance of two people with a lift for any transfers. Weathers transferred the resident by herself, and the resident began to slip and was lowered to the floor. Weathers did not report the incident, and two days later, it was determined that the resident had two fractures in her lower right leg.
Charges against the defendant are allegations unless and until proven in a court of law.
The case was investigated by Senior Special Investigator Thaddeus S. Kaczor and MFCU Rochester Regional Chief Investigator William Falk. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorney General Regional Director Ralph D. Tortora, III, of the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit’s Syracuse Regional Office. Catherine Wagner is Chief of Criminal Investigations-Upstate. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is led by Acting MFCU Director Amy Held. The Division of Criminal Justice is led by Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan.