Authorities Investigate Underground Network of Unlicensed Assisted Living Homes in Osceola and Polk Counties
By Alejandro Salazar
Senior Political Investigative Editor
The Sun Post News
Kissimmee, Fla. — What appeared to be a network of residential care homes for senior citizens and adults with disabilities has become one of Central Florida’s most disturbing investigations involving alleged elder abuse, neglect, fraud, and exploitation.
State and local authorities are investigating a group of homes operating under the names Cherish Home Care and Cherish Independent Living, accused of functioning for years as unlicensed assisted living facilities while housing dozens of vulnerable residents in conditions that Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon described as “sickening” and “hard to believe.”
A Year-Long Investigation
The investigation began in March 2025, when detectives with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office received complaints about suspicious activities involving several residential homes caring for elderly and disabled adults.
Over the following year, investigators conducted surveillance, interviewed witnesses, reviewed financial records, examined text messages, and carried out multiple inspections. According to court documents, the homes were marketed as independent living residences but were actually operating as assisted living facilities without the licenses required under Florida law.
Search warrants were eventually executed at multiple properties in both Osceola and Polk counties.
Two Arrested, More Charges Expected
Authorities arrested:
- Ronald Keith Pack, 60
- Marie Tarah Carenan, 56
Both face numerous felony charges, including:
- Elder neglect
- Aggravated abuse of an elderly or disabled adult
- Exploitation of elderly persons
- Welfare fraud
- Organized scheme to defraud
Investigators have indicated that additional criminal charges may still be filed as the investigation continues.
What Investigators Found
According to arrest affidavits and investigators, the conditions inside the homes were alarming.
Authorities reported finding:
- Windows secured with locks
- Padlocked doors
- Refrigerators locked to restrict food access
- Cabinets containing food kept under lock
- No licensed nurses on site
- No life-saving medical equipment
- Bedridden residents receiving inadequate care
Sheriff Blackmon said deputies were greeted by residents who hugged investigators and expressed relief that they were finally being removed from the facilities.
More Than 300 Emergency Calls
One of the most troubling revelations is that authorities documented more than 300 calls for service at these homes since January 2024, many involving medical emergencies.
The volume of emergency responses has raised serious questions about why the facilities continued operating for so long before being shut down.
Thirty-Eight Residents Relocated
Following the raids, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), working alongside several state agencies, relocated 38 vulnerable residents into licensed care facilities.
Those displaced included:
- Senior citizens
- Adults with developmental disabilities
- Individuals with behavioral health conditions
- Residents requiring daily medical assistance
Many reportedly depended entirely on caregivers for medication, meals, and basic daily living activities.
Allegations of Financial Exploitation
Investigators also allege the operators systematically took control of residents’ personal finances.
According to prosecutors, Pack and Carenan allegedly seized:
- SNAP (food assistance) cards
- Social Security benefits
- Identification documents
- Prescription medications
- Personal belongings
Authorities further allege residents were prevented from freely leaving the homes, managing their finances, obtaining food independently, or accessing emergency medical care.
Growing Questions About Oversight
Perhaps the most significant issue now facing state regulators is not simply what occurred inside these homes—but how they were allowed to operate for years.
Investigators are expected to examine:
- Why unlicensed facilities remained open despite repeated complaints.
- Whether inspections by state agencies were adequate.
- Why more than 300 emergency calls failed to trigger earlier intervention.
- Whether healthcare providers referred vulnerable patients to facilities lacking proper licenses.
Recent reporting has also revealed that investigators are examining whether multiple healthcare organizations referred patients to the homes despite licensing concerns.
A Case That May Grow Even Larger
Authorities have indicated the investigation remains active.
Additional individuals or organizations could face scrutiny if evidence shows they knowingly participated in referring patients or financially benefiting from the operation of the homes.
A Wake-Up Call for Florida Families
The case has renewed statewide concern about oversight of assisted living facilities and long-term care providers.
Law enforcement officials are urging families to verify that any assisted living facility is properly licensed through Florida’s regulatory system before placing a loved one in its care.
For thousands of families across Central Florida—including many within the Hispanic community—this investigation serves as a powerful reminder that choosing long-term care requires careful research, independent verification, and ongoing oversight.
As prosecutors continue building their case, the scandal surrounding Cherish Home Care and Cherish Independent Living may ultimately become one of the largest elder-care fraud investigations in recent Florida history.
