Jefferson City man gets probation for exploiting disabled people

A Jefferson City man was placed on five years of supervised probation for pleading guilty to five counts of financially exploiting disabled people.

Jeffery DeBrodie, 38, admitted to have done this between Sept. 1, 2013, and April 1, 2015.

As part of his probation he must pay restitution, but the amount has yet to be determined.

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 clients' medical and living expenses and general spending funds.

Authorities began investigating DeBrodie after there was a notification from a dentist's office where one of his clients 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 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 a normal or acceptable CCRS practice.

CCRS staff was unable to locate documentation determining the whereabouts of the questioned funds.

When confronted about these issues, DeBrodie retrieved numerous receipts from his residence, but the majority of the receipts did not indicate which 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.

Eventually authorities interviewed DeBrodie, who admitted to stealing funds from his five clients.

He said he used the funds for personal use, and 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.