The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO) announced that a 33-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars from multiple elderly victims while posing as a professional caregiver and working at healthcare agencies and long-term care facilities throughout Worcester and Middlesex counties.
According to the AGO, between August and November 2024, the defendant used stolen identities and professional credentials belonging to a relative and a former co-worker to fraudulently gain employment at five different healthcare agencies, long-term care facilities, and assisted living facilities. She typically stayed at each job for only a few weeks, during which time she allegedly stole the credit or debit cards of elderly victims and then used or attempted to use the cards without the victims’ knowledge.
In March 2025, the AGO secured indictments against the defendant. The AGO alleged that she stole the bank cards of at least 16 elderly victims and used the cards of 11 of those victims to steal approximately $28,000. She also attempted to steal from the remaining victims.
On October 14, 2025, the defendant pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to multiple charges, including Larceny over $250 from an Elder or Disabled Person; Credit Card Fraud; Attempted Larceny over $250 from an Elder or Disabled Person; Identity Fraud; and Witness Intimidation. As a result of the plea, she was sentenced to two years in a House of Correction, with one year to serve and the balance suspended for two years. Additionally, she is barred from any work involving the elderly or disabled and from employment in healthcare or social work.
Most of the fraudulent credit card purchases were refunded to the victims by their credit card and banking companies. As part of the plea agreement, the defendant has also been ordered to pay any remaining restitution to the victims of her scheme.
The locations where the defendant worked while carrying out the thefts include a long-term care facility in Framingham, a senior living facility in Bedford, and assisted living facilities in Hudson and Leominster, among others in Worcester and Middlesex counties.
Additionally, the AGO alleged that while under investigation by a local police department, the defendant deliberately misled law enforcement by fraudulently using the identity of a relative.
This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Joanna V. Staley and Senior Healthcare Fraud Investigator Erica Schlain, both of the AG’s Medicaid Fraud Division. Substantial assistance was provided by the Holliston, Hopkinton, Bedford, Hudson, Leominster, and Framingham police departments, as well as by the affected healthcare facilities and home health agencies.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Healthcare providers must implement effective systems to verify the identity, credentials, and eligibility of individuals seeking employment, particularly in roles involving direct access to vulnerable populations. This includes comprehensive pre-employment background checks and ongoing monitoring of licensure, exclusion lists, and employee conduct. In addition to personnel screening, facilities must have secure and consistently applied procedures for protecting residents’ personal property, especially financial assets such as credit and debit cards.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures related to employee hiring, credential verification, and exclusion list screening to ensure alignment with current regulatory standards. Include procedures for identity verification to prevent impersonation or falsified credentials. Policies for safeguarding resident financial property should be reviewed to ensure they are clear and consistently applied. Providers may benefit from working with an external consultant to assess the comprehensiveness of their policies and identify areas for risk mitigation or improvement.
- Ensure appropriate staff are trained on all aspects of pre-employment screening, including credential verification, criminal background checks, and exclusion status, as well as on protocols for securing resident property and reporting concerns. Residents and families should also be informed about protecting financial accounts and encouraged to report any issues. Med-Net Academy offers courses to support these efforts, including Staying on Top of Employee Checks and Protecting Resident Finances.
- Implement regular audits of employee records to verify active credentials, exclusion status, and consistency with identity documentation. Audit processes related to resident property — including inventories, lockbox use, and financial oversight — to detect potential misuse or theft. Providers may consider engaging a consultant to conduct mock reviews or focused audits in areas of elevated risk, to help identify vulnerabilities and support corrective action before issues arise.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, Inc. for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*