A Coon Rapids woman was ordered to spend two days in jail after bilking vulnerable adults out of money while working as a supervisor for an organization that serves people with disabilities.
Nichole Jacqueline Lindow was sentenced recently in Ramsey County District Court to the jail time in addition to five years of probation on one count of financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
The 37-year-old stole about $12,000 from eight vulnerable adults while employed as a supervisor of REM Ramsey facilities in 2014 and 2015, according to a criminal complaint.
The organization serves people with disabilities and neurological, brain or spinal cord injuries at several facilities in Ramsey County.
All of the vulnerable adults exploited by Lindow have diagnosed developmental disabilities and require help from staff to manage money, the charges said.
Lindow was responsible for maintaining the personal financial records of REM Ramsey residents. She also accompanied residents to the bank to help them cash checks and withdraw money.
Authorities linked her to 12 unaccounted-for transactions ranging from $200 to $2,600, the complaint said.
The account irregularities were found during a routine check and were reported to the Minnesota Department of Human Services and law enforcement.
When confronted, Lindow confessed to taking the money because of “financial issues” and she returned the cash.