Exploited Special Needs Man Found Safe, Investigation Continues

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- A mentally disabled man has been found safe after his mother tried to scam his trust money, and he went missing, police said.

Lee Earnest Longmire, 20, has been found safe.

On Friday, March 22, police officers located Lee. Because of the ongoing investigation, the location of where he was found cannot be disclosed. Lee appeared to be in good health, according to police.

Lee is currently staying with family members. At this time, he does not want to be placed in alternate care.

The investigation into the exploitation will continue. His mother, Yvonne Longmire, 58, is still incarcerated at the Gwinnett County Jail.

In late January a Gwinnett County police detective discovered that in Dec. 2018, Lee's mother, Longmire, of Lawrenceville, fraudulently presented Maurice Ford, 23, of Atlanta as her son Lee to a Probate Court and a physician. They convinced the Probate Court and the physician that Lee no longer had as severe a case of mental disability and no longer needed a conservator over his trust fund. Maurice pretended to be Lee and presented false testimony and fraudulently obtained documents to support their scam.

The false testimony relinquished $200,000 to Yvonne and Maurice, however, before the money could be withdrawn, the former conservator attorney and his paralegal became suspicious of Lee's identity. They realized that no one had physically seen Lee in several years. An investigation was launched and ultimately Lee became a ward of the State and was provided a guardian through the Division of Family and Children Services.

SEE ALSO: Mother Tries To Scam Mentally Disabled Son, Son Now Missing: Cops