COLUMBIA, S.C. — July 19, 2025 — South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has revealed the arrest of a woman from Columbia, who is accused of financially exploiting a vulnerable adult and misappropriating over $28,000.

Salym M. Williams, aged 32, was apprehended on July 15 by the Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. She is facing several felony charges, including Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, Obtaining Property Under False Pretenses valued at $10,000 or more, and Financial Identity Fraud.

As per the VAMPF investigation, Williams is alleged to have defrauded a resident of Opus Post Acute, a nursing facility located in West Columbia, between April 2022 and November 2024. Prosecutors assert that Williams utilized the victim’s personal information to create a Cash App account in their name, which was subsequently used for unauthorized purchases and fund transfers. Additionally, she is accused of accessing the victim’s retirement accounts, long-term disability funds, and bank accounts to carry out electronic transfers and ATM withdrawals amounting to $28,412.47.

The victim is legally classified as a vulnerable adult under South Carolina law. Authorities state that Opus Post Acute detected and reported the suspicious activities, fully cooperating with the investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Office.

“This case represents a serious violation of trust and decency,” said Attorney General Wilson. “Exploiting someone who is vulnerable—especially for personal gain—is reprehensible, and our office will continue to hold perpetrators of such crimes fully accountable.”

Each charge carries significant penalties:

Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult: Up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000.
False Pretenses ($10,000 or more): Up to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $500.
Financial Identity Fraud: Up to 10 years in prison and a fine at the court’s discretion.