Former Baltimore County Caregiver Charged with Felony Theft and Forgery

BALTIMORE, MD (June 19, 2009) - Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that former caregiver, Kera Pamela Heath has been was charged by Criminal Information in the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore County with felony theft, forgery, and uttering for stealing a check made out to an assisted living resident in her care.

Heath, 26, of the 4100 block of Mountwood Road in Baltimore, was a resident assistant at Caritas House Assisted Living located in the 3300 block of Benson Avenue. Heath is charged with stealing a check from a resident at the facility and converting the money to her own use.

Felony theft is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Forgery is a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $1,000 fine. Uttering is also a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $1,000 fine. A Criminal Information is but an accusation and all persons are innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Trial is scheduled for July 21, 2009.

This case was investigated by Attorney General Gansler’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit based on a referral directly from Caritas House. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has authority to investigate and prosecute abuse and neglect of vulnerable adults in facilities that receive Medicaid funds, in group homes that provide services to the developmentally disabled, and in assisted living facilities across the State of Maryland.