EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — Markeisha A. Hill, a 35-year-old certified nursing assistant from Granite City, has been charged with federal crimes after allegations surfaced that she used her elderly patients’ credit and bank account information to make personal purchases without consent.
Hill, who worked at University Nursing and Rehabilitation in Edwardsville and Meridian Village in Glen Carbon, is accused of committing two counts of access device fraud, six counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of possession of five or more identification documents, according to a federal grand jury charge.
“Financial crimes against the elderly are prevalent, but it’s especially disturbing when nursing home patients are targeted by those who are supposed to care for them,” U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe commented on the case. “That trust should never be violated.”
The allegations against Hill include using her patients’ identification to fraudulently use their debit and credit cards without consent, exceeding purchases of $1,000 in value. Acting Supervisor David Bolin of the U.S. Secret Service Springfield Resident Office echoed similar sentiments: “Nursing home caregivers are expected to watch over the loved ones of many families with care and trust. That trust should never be violated.”
Despite an indictment being merely a formal charge, the potential penalties for conviction are severe. Access device fraud can carry up to 15 years’ imprisonment, while aggravated identity theft requires a mandatory two-year prison sentence. Possession of five or more identification documents could result in five years’ imprisonment.
The investigation into Hill’s actions is being conducted by law enforcement officials from the U.S. Secret Service, Edwardsville Police Department, Glen Carbon Police Department, and Granite City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zoe Gross and David Dean are prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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