On August 8, 2024, detectives from the Camarillo Investigations Bureau, alongside members of the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit, Camarillo Patrol Services, and the Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit, executed a search warrant at the We Care Elderly Facility in Camarillo.
The investigation began in June when a resident at the facility noticed unfamiliar transactions on her bank account and reported them to the Camarillo Police Department. According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Det. Luke Riordan, it was discovered that Malith Maduranga Mendis, 36, co-owner of the facility with his wife, was “involved in using the victim’s funds for personal financial payments benefiting himself,” his wife, and his father.
When officers served the search warrant on the morning of August 8th, Mendis and his wife were present at the facility and detained as the search ensued. Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, Mendis was identified as the individual responsible for the fraudulent transactions and was taken into custody at that time.
Mendis was transported to Ventura County Jail and charged with financial elder abuse and identity theft. He posted bond and was released.
Detective Riordan commented that the investigation “highlights ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable populations from financial exploitation, especially within care facilities, and further emphasizes the importance of vigilance and reporting in preventing such crimes.”
