Maryland Women Sentenced for Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult, Ordered to Pay Over $28,000 in Restitution

By Patrick Herron

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced the sentencing of Tavonia Stackhouse and Monica Brown for financially exploiting a vulnerable adult at Rescuing Hearts Assisted Living Facility in Baltimore City. Stackhouse was sentenced to 60 days in jail and restitution of $25,291.80, while Brown received time served, restitution of $3,000, and 100 hours of community service, with both defendants barred from providing care for vulnerable adults or participating in federally funded health programs.

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the sentencing of Tavonia Stackhouse, 47, of Randallstown, Maryland, and Monica Brown, 49, of Baltimore, Maryland, relating to the financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult while the victim lived at Rescuing Hearts Assisted Living Facility in Baltimore City. Stackhouse owned the assisted living facility, and Brown was a caretaker at the facility.

From August of 2022 to May of 2023, Stackhouse and Brown used the bank account of a vulnerable adult who lived at their assisted living facility as if it were their own. When the vulnerable adult confronted them, Stackhouse and Brown said the victim was delusional and aggressive. This allegation led to the victim being hospitalized and later relocated to a different facility.

“Residents of assisted living facilities depend on their caretakers to look out for their best interests—not to exploit them,” said Attorney General Brown. “Financial abuse of vulnerable adults is a serious betrayal of trust, and our Office will always stand up for Marylanders who cannot advocate for themselves, holding accountable those who take advantage of them.”

On March 3, 2025, Stackhouse pleaded guilty to financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult before the Honorable Judge Althea Handy of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Judge Handy sentenced her to five years, suspending all but 60 days in jail with three years of supervised probation, and to pay restitution of $25,291.80.

On March 18, 2025, Brown pleaded guilty to financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult before the Honorable Judge Barry Williams of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Judge Williams sentenced her to five years, suspended all but time served, with three years of supervised probation, restitution of $3,000.00, and 100 hours of community service.

As terms of probation, both defendants were ordered not to provide care for vulnerable adults or participate in Medicare, Medicaid, or any other federally funded health program.

In making today’s announcement, Attorney General Brown thanked his Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit, particularly Deputy Director Lisa Hyle Marts, Assistant Attorney General Kurt Davidson, Investigator Kevin Clements, Investigator Edward Gray, and Fraud Analyst David Minzer for their work on this case.

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $6,845,828 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $2,281,939 for FY 2025, is funded by the State of Maryland.

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Maryland Women Sentenced for Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adult, Ordered to Pay Over $28,000 in Restitution