Pittsburgh woman accused of impersonating nurses across Western Pa. to stand trial
Suspect allegedly worked at two care facilities in Washington County
A Pittsburgh woman accused of using stolen identities to impersonate nurses in multiple counties across Western Pennsylvania – and in several other states – will stand trial in connection with her alleged fraud perpetrated at two Washington County care facilities.
Shannon Nicole Womack appeared through video conferencing for her preliminary hearing Tuesday morning before District Judge James Saieva Jr. and agreed to have all charges held for court without any testimony or evidence being presented during the proceeding.
Womack, 39, is accused of using stolen identities of registered nurses to pick up shifts at multiple health-care facilities in the region.
She allegedly worked six shifts at the Greenery Center for Rehab and Nursing in North Strabane Township between Oct. 1 and 6, and also worked one shift at Southmont of Presbyterian SeniorCare in North Franklin Township in March, according to court documents. Investigators said Womack may have stolen more than 120 oxycodone pills while working at Presbyterian SeniorCare.
Womack was charged July 21 and is facing felony charges of corrupt organizations, endangering the welfare of a care-dependent person, unlawful use of a computer, forgery, as well as misdemeanor charges of identity theft and falsely pretending to hold notary public office. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said investigators have filed an additional 43 charges after more information about Womack’s alleged activities was revealed.
“We had it as a continuing course of contact. We’re pressing forward,” Walsh said Wednesday. “We’re prepared to go. We’re ready. The investigation was completed by (Pennsylvania State Police) and we’re ready to go.”
Womack also worked shifts at facilities in Allegheny, Beaver, Bradford, Westmoreland and Erie counties, according to court documents. All of the facilities placed her on a “do not retain” list for misconduct or unprofessional behavior, investigators previously said. She is not a licensed professional in Pennsylvania – or any other state – and is accused of using fake staffing agencies to procure the shifts.
So far, Womack is only facing charges in Washington County, and it is not immediately known whether cases in the other neighboring counties will be consolidated here or if she will also be prosecuted elsewhere. Investigators said that Womack has warrants for identity fraud from Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey and Indiana, dating back to 2020.
The investigation began April 5 when Womack was pulled over in Cecil Township and she allegedly provided state police troopers with false identities. She was found to have around 20 different aliases and seven Social Security numbers during the stop, investigators said.
Police charged her with two counts of providing false identification to law enforcement and have since added an additional felony charge of carrying a firearm without a license. She is tentatively scheduled for plea court before Washington County President Judge Valarie Costanzo at 9 a.m. Sept. 2 on the charges related to the traffic stop.
She is being held at the Washington County jail on $250,000 cash bond while she waits for her case on the false nursing documents to be adjudicated. Her public defense attorney, Patrick Fitch, had no comment on the case when reached by phone Wednesday.