Georgia: Barbara Gleitsmann, 65, who was fined $18k and whose "animal rescue" was shut down by the government has now been arrested for exploiting and abusing an elderly woman

GEORGIA -- A woman who owned an animal rescue that was shut down in March 2013 has now been arrested on an elderly exploitation charge.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office said Barbara Joyce Gleitsmann, 65, was arrested on Friday accused of exploitation and intimidation of elderly persons.

An incident report states Gleitsmann was taking care of a woman named Dorothy Pringle. Pringle recently passed away and after her death her nephew said another woman noticed some of Pringle's money was missing.

According to an incident report, $50,000 was taken from Pringle without her authorization.

Pringle's nephew, James Bartley, told deputies he has copies of checks from Pringle's bank that are written to Gleitsmann and he's certain his aunt didn't authorize them. Bartley said in the report that a different woman noticed the fraud after another she took over Pringle's finances.

According to the report that was filed on February 1, 2016, Gleitsmann took the money over the course of two years.

Back in March 2013, Gleitsmann's animal shelter, CSRA Happy Tails Animal Rescue, was shut down after the Department of Agriculture found 18 violations. Those violations were found in July 2012. 

The Department of Agriculture suspended Gleitsmann's license for a year and fined her $18,000. She had the option to reapply for her license after a year, but an official with the Georgia Department of Agriculture said Monday that she never reapplied.

(WRDW - May 23, 2016)