Indictment of Two Individuals in Spalding County for Operating Unlicensed Personal Care Home and Abuse Charges

Attorney General Chris Carr, Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie M. Broder, and Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia Executive Director Pete Skandalakis have announced the indictment of Curtis Bankston and Sophia Simm-Bankston in Spalding County. Both individuals are charged with Operating an Unlicensed Personal Care Home, Unreasonable Confinement of a Disabled Adult, and Unreasonable Confinement of a Resident. The case is jointly prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia on behalf of District Attorney Marie Broder.

Attorney General Chris Carr stated, “The abuse, neglect, or exploitation of Georgia’s older and at-risk adults is absolutely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Addressing the issue of unlicensed personal care homes is critical to ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable Georgians. We cannot and will not allow these types of operations to fall under the radar.”

Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder added, “There are few things more reprehensible than abusing those who cannot care for themselves, but profiting from that abuse is truly despicable. These defendants took advantage of people that were entrusted to their care, and the District Attorney’s Office is grateful for the expertise that the Attorney General and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council bring to the prosecution of these acts.”

Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council Executive Director Pete Skandalakis emphasized, “Every person with a disability deserves dignity and a safe and secure place to live. That is why we must hold unlicensed care homes accountable for their illegal conduct. It is always an honor to work with Griffin Judicial Circuit District Attorney Marie Broder and her team in their tireless efforts to obtain justice for victims.”

The indictment of Curtis Bankston and Sophia Simm-Bankston came on March 21, 2024, following evidence presented to a Spalding County Grand Jury. Curtis Bankston faces 1 count of Operating an Unlicensed Personal Care Home, 6 counts of Unreasonable Confinement of a Disabled Adult, and 1 count of Unreasonable Confinement of a Resident. Similarly, Sophia Simm-Bankston faces 1 count of Operating an Unlicensed Personal Care Home, 6 counts of Unreasonable Confinement of a Disabled Adult, and 1 count of Unreasonable Confinement of a Resident.

The investigation leading to the indictment involved the Griffin Police Department, the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division, and the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.