Attorney General Griffin Announces Conviction of North Little Rock Woman for Elder Abuse

Griffin: ‘Protecting seniors from abuse will continue to be a priority for my office’

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing the conviction of Ja’Layia McClendon, 28, of North Little Rock after she pleaded guilty in Pulaski County Circuit Court to the charge of Abuse of an Endangered or Impaired Adult, a Class D Felony:

“Protecting seniors from abuse will continue to be a priority for my office. I congratulate my Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for their diligence in securing this conviction, especially Special Agent Heath Nelson and Assistant Attorney General Gabrielle Davis-Jones. I also thank Sixth Judicial District Prosecutor Will Jones for the assistance of his office in this case.”

McClendon worked as a caregiver at Woodland Heights Senior Living, a Little Rock long-term care facility. She surrendered herself to law enforcement on October 31, 2024. McClendon struck an 82-year-old female resident who was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, leaving bruises on the resident’s face and forearm.

McClendon was sentenced to five years of probation and a $1,000 fine.

Arkansas Attorney General Griffin announces Medicaid fraud arrest

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement announcing the arrest of Victoria Smith-Williams, 36, of Conway on one count of Medicaid fraud, a Class B Felony:

“Working as a dental assistant while concurrently billing the state Medicaid program for the same hours worked is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers of our state. I will continue fighting against this type of fraud and holding people accountable for trying to take advantage of the state.

“I thank Chief Investigator Gregory McKay in my office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit for his diligence in securing this arrest. I am also grateful to the Arkansas State Police for its assistance along with Sixth Judicial Prosecutor Will Jones, who has appointed Senior Assistant Attorney General Leigh Patterson to be the special deputy prosecutor in this case.”

Smith-Williams was arrested on October 17. While employed as a dental assistant, Smith-Williams submitted timesheets for Medicaid services purportedly rendered at the same time. She billed the state $18,000 for comprehensive community support services that were never rendered to Medicaid recipients. She was booked at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility and is currently free on $10,000 bond.

Attorney General Tim Griffin's Special Investigations Division and Law Enforcement partners arrest five for illegal gambling

LITTLE ROCK – Attorney General Tim Griffin today issued the following statement after five people were arrested in Bradley County on charges related to illegal gambling:

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“Agents in my Special Investigations Division worked with the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office and the Warren Police Department in a joint investigation of multiple illegal gambling operations in and near the city of Warren. The investigation led to the arrest of five individuals and the confiscation of nearly $40,000 in illegal funds.

“I have long said that my office serves as a resource for law enforcement agencies across Arkansas, so I am proud to see my Special Investigations team help shut down these operations and bring these criminals to justice. I appreciate Bradley County Sheriff Herschel Tillman and Warren Police Chief Shaun Hildreth for inviting us to be part of this investigation, and I congratulate them on their good work.”

After a months-long investigation during which probable cause was established that illegal gambling was taking place inside Que Lindo Michoacan in Warren and Spanky’s in Bradley County, warrants were executed at both locations Monday by the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office, the Warren Police Department, the Office of the Attorney General, Arkansas State Police, and the 10th Judicial Drug Task Force.

At Que Lindo Michoacan, Pablo Ceja, 32, of Warren was arrested and charged with one count of Keeping a Gambling House, a Class D felony, and one count of Gaming Devices-Prohibition, an unclassified misdemeanor. Authorities seized $15,000 and confiscated five electronic gambling machines.

At Spanky’s, Kaysie Miskell, 44, of Pine Bluff, Sandra Huntley, 41, of Kingsland, and Shony Penister, 36, of Warren, were all arrested and each charged with one count of Keeping a Gambling House. Keithron Gibbs, 39, of Warren, was arrested and charged with one count of Gaming Devices-Betting, a violation classified as neither a felony nor a misdemeanor. Authorities seized $24,150 and confiscated 41 electronic gambling machines.