Fake PA Shawna Gunter Gets 3 Years for Treating Kids

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Shawna Michelle Gunter, 37, of Annapolis, Maryland, will spend the next three years behind bars after being sentenced late yesterday for a brazen scheme to impersonate a licensed physician’s assistant. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett handed down the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release – the first six months under home detention with electronic monitoring – following Gunter’s conviction on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Gunter was also ordered to pay $53,530.39 in restitution.

The case, brought by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein, alongside a coalition of state and federal agencies, revealed a calculated deception. Gunter, without any legitimate medical training, managed to secure a position with a pediatrician in Centreville and Chestertown, Maryland, falsely claiming to be a recent graduate of Howard University. She then forged documents – a physician’s assistant certificate and DEA registration – using the credentials of a *real* PA to legitimize her charade.

Between August 19 and 29, 2013, Gunter directly diagnosed and treated 137 infants and children, ranging from routine physicals to sick visits and ADHD follow-ups. She didn’t stop there. Gunter also illegally wrote over 400 prescriptions for controlled substances, putting vulnerable patients at risk. The fraud began earlier, however. In June 2013, while working as a surgical assistant, Gunter stole $14,400 from her employer and forged a signature to cash the check. This, combined with a prior $7,800 loan obtained under false pretenses, totals $22,200 that remains unpaid.

The fallout from Gunter’s actions was significant. The pediatrician’s practice unknowingly submitted hundreds of false claims to Medicaid, resulting in $19,668.19 in fraudulent payments. The scheme was uncovered through the collaborative efforts of the Maryland State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG), and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police.

“Shawna Michelle Gunter fraudulently posed as a licensed physician’s assistant, treating patients and writing prescriptions, although she had no medical training,” stated U.S. Attorney Rosenstein, a stark reminder of the potential dangers of unchecked fraud within the healthcare system. The investigation highlights the critical need for rigorous vetting procedures and vigilance in protecting vulnerable populations.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tamera L. Fine and Zachary A. Myers were instrumental in securing the conviction and sentence. This case serves as a warning: those who attempt to exploit the healthcare system for personal gain will be held accountable, and the consequences will be severe. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.