The Attorney General’s Office announced that Jeffrey Kittredge, Sr., 57, of Montpelier, Vermont, was sentenced yesterday in Vermont Superior Court, Washington Criminal Division, to 3 to 5 years imprisonment with 18 months to serve and the rest suspended, and 5 years of probation, after pleading guilty to one felony count of Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult, and one felony count of Medicaid Fraud.
The charges against Mr. Kittredge were brought by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit (MFRAU) and stemmed from Mr. Kittredge’s neglect in his role as the caregiver for a severely disabled young man, and for related misuse of funds provided through the Vermont Medicaid Children’s Personal Services waiver program.
Mr. Kittredge failed to bring the young man to various medical appointments on more than eight occasions and failed to otherwise obtain medical assistance for the young man’s obvious and life-threatening skin ulcerations. As a result of Mr. Kittredge’s neglect, the young man’s injuries progressed to the point of irreversible infection and ultimately caused the young man’s death.
Mr. Kittredge was also sentenced for endorsing a fraudulent timesheet submitted by his partner and co-caregiver, Jennifer Cote. Ms. Cote misrepresented that she had performed certain hours of care when, in fact, she had not. Both matters were jointly investigated by the Montpelier Police Department and MFRAU. In 2021, Ms. Cote was sentenced to 12 to 36 months imprisonment pursuant to a plea agreement for her role in the young man’s death.
If you suspect someone is being or has been neglected or abused, contact local law enforcement immediately. Neglect or abuse of vulnerable adults may also be reported to Vermont Adult Protective Services by calling 800-564-1612 and to MFRAU at https://ago.vermont.gov/medicaid-fraud-report-form.
MFRAU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $1,127,468 for Federal fiscal year FY 2023. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $375,823 for FY 2023, is funded by the State of Vermont.
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