A Jefferson City man is facing five counts of financially exploiting disabled people.
Jeffery DeBrodie, 37, 118 Garfield St., is believed to have done this between Sept. 1, 2013, and April 1 of this year.
Authorities said DeBrodie took nearly $3,800 from five clients while working at Cole County Residential Services (CCRS), which provides services to help people with developmental disabilities.
DeBrodie was responsible for handling client's medical expenses, living expenses and general spending funds.
Authorities began looking into DeBrodie after there was a notification from a dentist office where one of his client's had an outstanding invoice. Debrodie had requested $314 for this, but CCRS staff couldn't find documentation that the invoice had been paid.
CCRS staff looked at DeBrodie's logs and found numerous discrepancies for these five clients, including requesting and obtaining funds for clients' medical invoices and those invoices not being paid, requesting and obtaining funds to pay fictitious clients' medical invoices, and obtaining funds from clients' accounts documented as "cash," which is not normal or acceptable CCRS practice.
CCRS staff was unable to locate documentation determining where the questioned funds went.
When confronted about these issues, DeBrodie retrieved numerous receipts from his residence, but the staff advised the majority of the receipts did not indicate what client they were for or other required information. Staff also noted the receipts appeared to contain personal expenses.
When CCRS staff attempted to set up another meeting with DeBrodie, they were unable to contact him, and he failed to report to work.
On April 8, authorities interviewed DeBrodie, who admitted to stealing funds from the five clients he was in charge of.
He said he used the funds for personal use.
DeBrodie said he knew his clients were disabled and taking the funds was illegal.
He said he would cash the clients' payroll checks and use the funds for himself.
When questioned about requesting funds for clients' medical invoices, not paying the invoices and the funds not being in the clients' accounts, DeBrodie said he didn't remember specific incidents, but he was responsible for not paying for the invoices and the funds not being in the clients' accounts.