Pennsylvania State Police are investigating women who have allegedly posed using at least 10 aliases as nurses for five years, so they are asking healthcare companies to check their employment records.
According to a police press release, 39-year-old Shannon Nicole Womack allegedly posed and used as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, and registered nurse supervisor for statewide rehabilitation and nursing homes.
She faces several charges, including corrupt organizations, welfare risks of care, illegal use of computers, identity theft, counterfeiting, illegal theft and multiple other charges, state police said.
“She is accused of securing nursing positions through staffing agencies by submitting fraudulently signed documents and creating false LLCs to deploy herself to the work. According to the report, Womack only works short hours in each of these jobs,” state police said.
If any of her aliases match employment records, the facility will be asked to call state police.
Investigators confirmed that some of the names she used were Shannon Nicole Perham, Shannon Nicole Abiola, Shannon Nicole Armstrong, Shannon Abiola Perhamm, Shannon Nicole Grimes, Shannon Nicole Lawson, Shannon Nicole Lesco, Shannon Nicole Robinson, Shannon Lee Lawson and Shannon Nicole Wamak.
It is unclear if she holds a lawyer.
The Criminal Investigation Bureau began investigating Womack in April after a regular traffic stop in Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, criminal charges claimed they presented fake IDs. Police say her vehicle was registered in Georgia but the registration had expired.
In the vehicle, the trooper says he has found several forms of IDs, prescription medications, medical documents, patient logs and medical devices from various nursing facilities prescribed by residents.
According to statetroopers, Womack had multiple warrants in several states related to fraud and impersonation of nurses.
Officials allege that they used the identities of four actual healthcare workers from multiple southern states to earn employment in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee and Georgia. It states that it may be an affidavit. She says she is not a licensed medical professional in any state.
She was also listed on the Georgia “Nurse Warning” site, according to the affidavit. The state attorney general issued a suspension and a destination order, but was unable to find her.
In Pennsylvania, investigators say nine employers had placed Womack in “Do not Hot Hod” status due to professional misconduct before their arrest.
Authorities accused seven Social Security numbers of Womack, accusing them of using fake references to secure work and creating a fake staffing agency that focuses work on themselves.
“She answers calls and gives herself, like her own fake secretary after going through the proper host agency channel,” Penn State trooper Rocco Gagrialdi said at a press conference Monday. “She spent a lot of time and effort getting approved by these different institutions.”
According to criminal charges, during a brief stint in Southmont for Presbyterian Senior Care in Washington County, Pennsylvania, Womack allegedly diverted oxycodone pills intended for residents. Investigators said she was in charge of the medical cart during her shift and could not distribute the medicine to residents.
“Five residents were affected by the conduct due to the missing tablets of over 120 oxycodone 5mg,” the affidavit reads.
According to the affidavit, Womack was said to have worked for one shift at the facility for one shift in March.
“It’s either a sleazy act or an act. Not only does it take advantage of the elderly in this way, Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said at a press conference.
Police said the scheme dates back to the early days of the Covid pandemic when the need for nursing staff was important.
“It wasn’t uncommon for these different settlements, agencies to reach out to the host institutions and say some additional shifts were being met,” Gagriardi said. “It started in 2020 and was a very easy transition. She just kept going after that.”
