Jackson, MS—A Jackson woman is facing charges that she exploited vulnerable adults, announced Attorney General Jim Hood.

Toni Rawls, age 47, of Cooperwell Drive in Jackson, turned herself into Hinds County authorities December 24, 2010, after being indicted by a Hinds County grand jury on two counts of exploitation of a vulnerable person.

At the time the crimes are alleged to have been committed, Rawls was working as supervisor of an independent living program operated through Hudspeth Regional Center. Rawls is alleged to have used her position by having two vulnerable persons under her supervision write and cash 12 checks from their personal checking accounts totaling approximately $2,035. Rawls is accused of converting those funds for her own use.

Rawls remains in jail and, should she be convicted of the charges against her, faces a maximum of 20 years in jail and $20,000 in fines.

This case was investigated and will be prosecuted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Attorney General’s Office.

As with all cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.