A Sheffield woman has pleaded guilty to financially exploiting a senior citizen under her care at the Ruth M. Smith Center.

Alicia M. Ordiway was charged by Warren-based Pennsylvania State Police with financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, theft and access device fraud, all third-degree felonies. Ordiway pleaded guilty to financial exploitation of an older adult or care-dependent person, with the other charges not prosecuted. According to the court, she will pay $6,125.52 in restitution.

Pennsylvania State Police were contacted by the Ruth Smith Center’s administrator in August 2023 with a report that one of the residents “had money stolen from him by one of the workers.” Troopers were told that staff and the victim’s power of attorney discovered numerous transactions.

Staff told police that Ordiway allegedly “worked personally” with the victim and “was a supervisor and had access to the patient’s financial information as well as to their debit cards and checkbooks.”

Troopers then interviewed the power of attorney, who reported that she “discovered suspicious transactions” and contacted staff as a result. Police say they “went through the bank statements line by line to determine the fraudulent charges” with the power of attorney.

Troopers say they also interviewed the victim, who allegedly said “he was aware that (Ordiway) was spending his money” and told police that “he did not give her permission to online shop, nor did he approve for her to do her own grocery shopping,” per the affidavit.

The victim did state that he gave Ordiway “money for a veterinarian bill and he did give her a wedding gift.”

Troopers conclude in the affidavit that Ordiway allegedly took $9,551.16 from the victim. Restitution was settled at a lower amount.