FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD (March 21, 2025) – 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 03, 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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