Woman ordered to repay $30K after exploiting grandmother

A Baltimore woman has been sentenced for exploiting her grandmother in a theft scheme involving over $25,000, the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City said Wednesday.

Karen McAlister was convicted of committing a theft scheme from her grandmother, Pauline Vick, and sentenced to eight years, with all but 18 months suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation.

McAlister was also ordered to pay $30,000 in restitution to her grandmother’s estate, officials said.

State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates announced the conviction, stating, “It is truly disheartening to see a grandchild exploit their family’s matriarch, as this defendant has. I commend Ms. Vick’s daughter for courageously reaching out to my office to deliver justice for her mother.”

Bates added, “May the prison sentence and restitution serve as a powerful lesson to this defendant, inspiring her to reject abusive actions in the future. I also want to thank my Economic Crimes and Older & Disabled Persons Units for their unwavering commitment to recovering the stolen money and ensuring accountability.”

The case revealed that McAlister obtained a power of attorney from her grandmother in October 2021. Officials said she then added her name to Vick’s bank accounts and began withdrawing funds to lease and furnish a luxury apartment.

By April 2022, McAlister had drained the accounts by converting certificates of deposits and retirement accounts and withdrawing cash at the maximum daily limit of $5,000.

According to authorities, the theft was discovered in December 2022 when McAlister’s aunt received a bank letter indicating a negative balance. The aunt’s investigation led to the discovery of McAlister’s actions.

The case was reported to the State’s Attorney’s Office in September 2023, leading to an investigation that included bank surveillance photos identifying McAlister making the withdrawals.

Vick, who was 95 and showing signs of dementia at the time of the theft, died Nov. 1, 2023.

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