Catoosa County, GA — A Catoosa County woman has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to exploiting her elderly mother in a scheme that drained nearly $200,000 and ultimately left the victim homeless.
On March 6, 2025, Vickie Long entered a non-negotiated guilty plea to charges of exploitation of an elderly person, identity fraud, and theft by taking. According to court records, Long convinced her mother to give her large sums of money under the false pretense that she was undergoing cancer treatment. When the victim’s family and Adult Protective Services intervened, halting the voluntary payments, Long began accessing her mother’s financial accounts without permission.
Detective Daniel Thacker of the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after receiving a report of the suspected abuse. Authorities later determined that Long spent most of the stolen money on fentanyl.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Zachary Trippe. Following arguments from both sides, Judge Melissa Gifford Hise sentenced Long to 30 years, with the first 15 years to be served in confinement.
District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller condemned the crime in a statement following the sentencing:
“If you steal from your elderly mother, you’re not just a criminal — you’re a coward,” Fuller said. “This defendant claimed to have cancer, but the truth is, she was the cancer. In this community, we protect our most vulnerable, and we will make sure predators like her pay the price.”
This case highlights the valiant ongoing efforts by local authorities to protect elderly residents from financial exploitation and abuse.