An area woman has been arrested and charged with eight counts ofembezzlement from a vulnerable adult at the Mississippi StateHospital in Whitfield, Attorney General Jim Hood said Tuesday.

Sara Delphine Williams, 59, of Smithdale, was arrested May 11following an investigation by the Medicaid Fraud Unit and anindictment by the Pike County Grand Jury. The eight counts involvefunds totaling over $19,000, Hood said.

Following her arrest by AG investigators, Williams was turnedover to the Pike County Sheriff’s Office and her bond was set at$5,000. She was arraigned May 12.

Hood said crimes like stealing money from the elderly will bediscovered in time and violators will be prosecuted.

“I hope that continuing to make public these offenses againstour elderly will encourage citizens to report these types of crimesand to discourage potential criminals,” Hood said.