CONYERS, Ga. - Police have arrested one of two people who was being sought for running an illegal personal care home to exploit disabled women.
According to the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, 45-year-old Tomeka Moses Williams was arrested Thursday for running the home in the 300 block of Rodgers Court in Conyers. Investigators said that, at the time, there were eight "emotionally disabled" residents living at the home.
Williams is charged with operating an unlicensed personal care home and eight counts of exploitation of disabled adults.Officials said the women range in age from 24 to 80 and are now all safe.
"Georgia Adult Protective Services assisted us with relocating the majority of them," Investigator Dawn Murrain said. "One or two have been placed with family members, but we have been able to find licensed facilities that can take them on an emergency basis and they are all safe and sound right now."
The sheriff's office opened an investigation into the facility in February and recently took out arrest warrants for Williams and her employee, 48-year-old Tony Powell. Officials said Powell lived in the home and was supposed to take care of the women.
Powell is still at large and faces charges of aggravated assault, exploitation of disabled adults and intimidation of a disabled adult, simple battery.
Powell allegedly used a shock cane similar to the one pictured below. The canes are typically used as self-defense for the elderly.
Powell is described as a black male who is about 6 feet 1 inch tall and 250 pounds. He is bald with brown eyes. The sheriff's office learned Powell has strong ties to the Detroit area and he might already be out of the Rockdale County area.
Anyone with information about Powell - especially his location - is asked to call Investigator D. Murrain at 770-278-8159. Tipsters can also call the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office 24-hour line at 770-483-4200.
