BALTIMORE, MD (August 18, 2022) – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh today announced that Troy Desante Brown, 47, of Baltimore, was sentenced for felony theft for his role in the operation of an unlicensed assisted living facility. The Honorable Garret P. Glennon of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County sentenced Brown to three years of incarceration, all suspended and five years of supervised probation. Brown was ordered to refrain from operating any assisted living facilities, have no contact with former residents, and pay $19,379.09 in restitution, of which $17,000 has already been paid. In a separate case in Baltimore City, Brown pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed assisted living facility, exploitation of a vulnerable adult, embezzlement, and public assistance fraud. In that case, Brown was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration, suspending all but time served, with five years of probation.
In 2015, the Civil Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General began investigating Neiswanger Management Services, LLC (NMS), a corporation that operated five nursing homes throughout Maryland, for violations of the Patients’ Bill of Rights and the Maryland False Health Claims Act. The investigation revealed that NMS was unlawfully discharging their nursing home patients to unlicensed assisted living facilities and homeless shelters in the Baltimore area. In October 2018, NMS settled with the State, agreeing to stop running nursing facilities and pay $2.2 million to the State.
Subsequently, the Organized Crime and Medicaid Fraud Control Units of the Criminal Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General began criminal investigations into the operators of those unlicensed assisted living facilities. The investigation revealed financial exploitation of the disabled residents of the facilities, as well as additional evidence of abuse and neglect. In July 2019, search warrants conducted at the facilities revealed overcrowded homes and, in some instances, deplorable living conditions, including bed bugs and mice.
In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Frosh thanked Criminal Division Director Kathleen Murphy, Organized Crime Unit Chief Katie Dorian, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Chief Zak Shirley, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Chief of Investigations James Hagin, and Assistant Attorney General Jared Albert, who prosecuted these cases.
Attorney General Frosh also thanked the Maryland State Police, the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Adult Protective Services, the U.S. Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Healthcare Quality, the Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Baltimore County Police Department, State’s Attorney for Baltimore County Scott Shellenberger, and State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby for their assistance in this prosecution.
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In 2015, the Civil Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General began investigating Neiswanger Management Services, LLC (NMS), a corporation that operated five nursing homes throughout Maryland, for violations of the Patients’ Bill of Rights and the Maryland False Health Claims Act. The investigation revealed that NMS was unlawfully discharging their nursing home patients to unlicensed assisted living facilities and homeless shelters in the Baltimore area. In October 2018, NMS settled with the State, agreeing to stop running nursing facilities and pay $2.2 million to the State.
Subsequently, the Organized Crime and Medicaid Fraud Control Units of the Criminal Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General began criminal investigations into the operators of those unlicensed assisted living facilities. The investigation revealed financial exploitation of the disabled residents of the facilities, as well as additional evidence of abuse and neglect. In July 2019, search warrants conducted at the facilities revealed overcrowded homes and, in some instances, deplorable living conditions, including bed bugs and mice.
- Dawn Antoinette Daniels, 52, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed assisted living facility and public assistance fraud. Daniels was sentenced to one year, suspending all but time served, with three years of supervised probation and to pay $2,057 in restitution.
- Sharon Prunella Isaac, 54, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed assisted living facility, first-degree neglect of a vulnerable adult, exploitation of a vulnerable adult, felony theft, and public assistance fraud. Isaac was sentenced to five years of incarceration, all suspended in favor of five years of supervised probation and to pay $4,571 in restitution. In a separate case in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, Isaac pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed assisted living facility and was given a sentence of time served.
- Keisha Latonya Coates, 56, of Reisterstown, pleaded guilty to theft scheme and identity fraud. Coates was sentenced to eighteen months of incarceration, suspending all but time served, with three years of probation and to pay $2,502.82 in restitution. In a separate case in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Coates pleaded guilty to public assistance fraud and fraudulent statement in a public assistance application. Coates was sentenced to eighteen months of incarceration, suspending all but time served, with three years of probation.
- Barbara Jean Parker, 63, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to exploitation of a vulnerable adult, felony theft, and filing a false tax return. Parker was sentenced to five years of incarceration, suspending all but time served, with three years of supervised probation and to pay $4,361 in restitution.
In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Frosh thanked Criminal Division Director Kathleen Murphy, Organized Crime Unit Chief Katie Dorian, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Chief Zak Shirley, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Chief of Investigations James Hagin, and Assistant Attorney General Jared Albert, who prosecuted these cases.
Attorney General Frosh also thanked the Maryland State Police, the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Adult Protective Services, the U.S. Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the Office of Healthcare Quality, the Department of Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Baltimore County Police Department, State’s Attorney for Baltimore County Scott Shellenberger, and State’s Attorney for Baltimore City Marilyn Mosby for their assistance in this prosecution.
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