A Northwest Georgia woman, Vickie Long, age 45 of Ringgold, was sentenced to 30 years, with 15 to be served in confinement, on March 6, 2025, after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to the exploitation of her elderly mother. Long entered a non-negotiated guilty plea for one count of exploiting an elder person, one count of identity fraud, and one count of theft by taking.

The court heard evidence that Long manipulated her mother into providing large sums of money under the false pretense of needing funds for fictitious cancer treatments. After family members and Adult Protective Services intervened and stopped the voluntary transfers, Long resorted to using her mother’s personal information to steal money directly from her checking and savings accounts. Detective Daniel Thacker of the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office quickly initiated an investigation upon being notified of the abuse. Law enforcement officials discovered that Long spent the majority of the stolen funds on fentanyl.

Assistant District Attorney Zachary Trippe successfully prosecuted the case. Judge Melissa Gifford Hise delivered the sentence after hearing evidence and arguments from both sides. The victim reportedly lost her home and nearly $200,000 as a result of Long’s fraudulent activities. “If you steal from your elderly mother, you’re not just a criminal — you’re a coward,” said District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller in a statement. “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.” Fuller expressed gratitude to Judge Hise for the significant sentence. “We’re thankful to Judge Hise for delivering a stiff sentence because criminals need to know…if you prey on the weak in Northwest Georgia, the strong are coming for you.”