Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced the sentencing of Nicole Lynn Vanhorn, 38, of Denton, Maryland, for practicing nursing without a license and committing Medicaid fraud. Vanhorn pleaded guilty to one count of Medicaid Fraud, valued over $1,500, on January 22, 2025, in the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.
The court, presided over by Judge Mark W. Crooks, sentenced Vanhorn to a suspended five-year term and placed her on a five-year probation, with the initial three years to be supervised. The judge also imposed restrictions on Vanhorn’s employment during probation, prohibiting her from nursing unless she is properly licensed and from working with vulnerable adults or at any healthcare facility receiving state or federal funds.
In August 2023, Vanhorn used false credentials to secure a position at Denton Nursing and Rehab in Caroline County, claiming to be a registered nurse by misusing the identity and qualifications of a similarly named registered nurse from Pennsylvania. She also falsely claimed degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania State University, which both institutions have no record of.
Vanhorn’s deception led her to administer medications and supervise other healthcare staff over nine shifts, defrauding Maryland Medicaid of $3,576.20 by billing for unqualified nursing services.
Attorney General Brown emphasized the critical nature of nursing licensure to ensure patient safety, particularly for the elderly and disabled. The case was supported by the diligent efforts of the Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit, along with cooperation from the Delaware Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
The Medicaid Fraud and Vulnerable Victims Unit is funded 75 percent by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with a grant of $6,845,828 for the 2025 fiscal year, and the remaining 25 percent by the State of Maryland, totaling $2,281,939.
