I am a 75 year-old Army vetern, retired w/SCD. I am physically compromised by age, a mental weakness that allows me to trust those that are kind to me, and the loss of a couple of digits. Michael George and Traci Hynes are middle-aged, healthy people with children who, along with Traci's parents are living in two homes that are on his 14-acre hemp farm that adjoins my property.

At the time of my problems with my neighbors, Michael G. and Traci Hynes, I was living alone on my 4.38 acre property, attempting to repair and restore two homes in order to sell. I was overwhelmed by the enormity of my tasks, and compromesed by my diminished physical ability for construction labor, nd hampered by my inability to hire local workers to help me due to the COCID-19 epidemic. Michael convinced me to lend him a $90,000.00 business/personal loan for the purpose of freeing him of his $96,000.00 credit debt. He promised me that, once he payed off his debt, he would no longer have to work odd jobs in order to pay the monthly interest of these debts. Then he could spend more of his time helping me repair and restore my property. After I gave him the money, Michael tricked me into signing a "loan agreement" that enabled him and his wife to keep the $90,000.00 business/personal loan, allowing them to repaying the loan over 15 years, and paying me back with no intrest.

Dispite the state and federsl laws forbiding, or, at least, discouraging financial exploitation of the elderly, I have been unsucessful over the past two years in finding legal help, or a lawyer who is willing to help me. The Sheriff's Department (who has juristiction over Gloucester, NC) is that I signed a contract, and no crime has been committed that justifies their investigation. The Buncombe County magistrate's position is that she "wouldn't give money to my own children," and that I "am free to enter into a bad deal." The Carteret and Craven County District Attorny's position is that "everyone is free to embark on a bad deal," and that I need to get a lawyer. The Department of Social Services's position is that I "need a lawyer." The State Attorney's Elder Abuse division's position is that I need a lawyer.
I am reciving an army pension and SSI payments. I am not indigent, but, because I am $90,000.00 short, and have a sick spouse I support, and a home for which I pay and average of $3000.00 a month in utilities every month, I can not afford to hire a lawyer. I am not the only elderly person - suseptible to trusting perceived friends - who is juggling these sorts of expenses. How is anyone surprised that the increase in elder financial abuse is "on the rise?"

I hope that , in the future, all the entities that are "committed to abolishing elder financial abuse and holding their abusers accountable" actually start doing things to reach their state goal.

If anything positive comes from the time and effort I have spent filling out this form, I will probably keel over with a massive stroke.