Following a yearlong multi-agency investigation, detectives with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Poinciana husband and wife on June 24, 2026, for operating a network of unlicensed, illegal assisted living facilities spanning Osceola and Polk counties.
The Arrests & Charges
Marie Tarah Carenan (56) and Ronald Pack (60) were taken into custody after law enforcement executed six simultaneous search warrants at their residence and several homes used for the operation. They are facing numerous severe felony charges:
- Scheme to defraud
- Aggravated elder abuse and elder abuse
- Elder neglect and elder exploitation
- Welfare fraud
Details of the Operation
The couple operated under the business name Cherished Home Care, renting residential homes to house vulnerable, elderly, and in some cases, bedridden residents. Investigators state that the couple managed as many as nine unlicensed facilities at one time without state-required permits or licensed medical personnel on site.
The probe originally launched after a patrol deputy responded to a 911 call at one of the Poinciana homes and noticed deeply concerning conditions. Over the course of a year, Osceola detectives worked alongside the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Statewide Prosecutor’s Office to dismantle the network.
Disturbing Conditions & Resident Relocation
During the raids, investigators documented severe health and safety violations, including:
- Locks installed on windows, doors, refrigerators, and food storage cabinets.
- A complete lack of required life-saving equipment or fire extinguishers.
- Bedridden residents left with zero licensed nursing staff on hand (some homes had up to 9 high-needs residents monitored by only a single, unlicensed caregiver).
A total of 38 residents were rescued from the properties and successfully relocated to safe, licensed care facilities with the assistance of DCF. Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon stated in a news conference that additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.