By Ciara Perez, Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com (ISN) – Published June 24th, 2026
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POINCIANA, Fla. — What started as a single 911 call has led to the shutdown of several alleged illegal assisted living facilities and the arrest of a husband and wife accused of exploiting elderly and vulnerable residents, including one here in Poinciana located at 941 Gillingham Ct. Kissimmee.
After more than a year of investigation, the Osceola County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of 56-year-old Marie Tarah Carenan and 60-year-old Ronald Pack on a long list of charges, including aggravated elder abuse, elder neglect, elder exploitation, welfare fraud, and scheme to defraud.
According to investigators, Detective Mangual-Barbosa spent months working alongside the Statewide Prosecutor's Office, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and other state and local agencies to uncover what authorities describe as an illegal assisted living operation spanning both Osceola and Polk counties.
Early Wednesday morning, members of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, detectives, and deputies executed three search warrants connected to the case.
The first warrant was served at the couple's Bellalago residence, where both suspects were taken into custody. Two additional search warrants were executed at homes in the Poinciana area that investigators say were being used as unlicensed assisted living facilities.
Inside those homes, authorities found a combined total of 17 residents and only two caregivers. Investigators say several residents were bedridden, yet no licensed nurses were present.
Detectives also documented what they described as troubling living conditions. According to the Sheriff's Office, locks were installed on windows, doors, refrigerators, and food storage cabinets. Investigators reported that required safety equipment, including fire extinguishers and other life-saving devices, was either missing or inadequate.
The investigation revealed that neither Carenan nor Pack held licenses to operate assisted living facilities in Florida.
Officials said concerns about the facilities had been mounting for some time. In May 2025, five residents were removed from one of the homes and relocated to a licensed facility after a court order was issued.
As search warrants were carried out Wednesday, DCF personnel responded to assess residents and help relocate them to licensed facilities where they could receive appropriate care.
Sheriff Chris Blackmon praised the dedication of everyone involved in the case and emphasized that protecting seniors and adults with cognitive disabilities remains a priority for the agency.
"This investigation is an example of the work our detectives do behind the scenes every day to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our community," the Sheriff's Office said.
Both suspects were booked into the Osceola County Jail. Additional charges are possible as the investigation continues.
Photos and videos associated with this story were provided to iSkyNews.com by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Source: Osceola County Sheriff's Office
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