Former VA nursing home administrator arrested in statewide probe, accused of stealing from resident

An assistant administrator at a Veteran's Affairs nursing home in Monroe was arrested Tuesday in connection with stealing money from a resident at the facility who was described as having "severe cognitive impairment," law enforcement documents show.

Thomas W. Shoemaker, 51, of Monroe, is accused of exploitation of persons with infirmities and theft of assets of an aged or disabled person, according to a warrant by the state Inspector General's office.

Shoemaker — who served as assistant administrator at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home from 2004 until his resignation in 2013 — moved $1,812 from a resident's personal account directly into his own account, according to the document.

The arrest is part of an ongoing investigation by the inspector general into Veterans Affairs facilities. Last year, David LaCerte, then the head of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, resigned in the midst of inspector general probes into nursing home conditions. Also last year, the director of the Louisiana Veterans Home in Jackson was arrested in connection with records about patients' injuries being destroyed.

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