Fake nurse pleads guilty to stealing identities, impersonating RNs
Pittsburgh woman worked at medical facilities to steal prescription drugs
The woman who posed as a nurse by stealing the identities and registration information from real nurses in order to get access to copious amounts of prescription pain killers at care facilities across Western Pennsylvania will serve prison time after pleading guilty.
Shannon Nicole Womack pleaded guilty Wednesday to several felony and misdemeanor counts while appearing before President Judge Valarie Costanzo in the Washington County Courthouse, and she was immediately sentenced to serve 4 ½ to 9 years in a state prison.
The investigation began in April 2025 when Womack was pulled over in Cecil Township and she provided state police troopers with false identities and had an unlicensed gun in her vehicle. She was later found to have around 20 different aliases and seven Social Security numbers during the stop, investigators said.
Through that investigation, state police learned she had been using stolen identities of registered nurses to pick up shifts at multiple health care facilities in the region and even in other states.
As part of the charges in the Washington County case, Womack worked six shifts at the Greenery Center for Rehab and Nursing in North Strabane Township over a week in October 2024 and also worked one shift at Southmont of Presbyterian SeniorCare in North Franklin Township in March 2025, according to court documents. During that time, investigators said Womack may have stolen more than 120 oxycodone pills while working at Presbyterian SeniorCare.
But while Womack stole prescription drugs, she also put the lives of patients at risk and upended the professional livelihoods of at least two registered nurses whose identities she stole. Shannon Parham, who is one of the registered nurses whose identity was stolen, wrote a victim impact statement explaining how she received calls over several years from police investigators and medical facility employees from across the country questioning her work history and professional conduct.
“Today is a day I’m relieved about,” Parham wrote in her victim impact statement, which was read aloud by Assistant District Attorney MarLee DeBolt.
Parham, who lives out of state and did not attend Wednesday’s plea hearing, wrote about damage Womack did to her professional career as she had to warn potential employers about complaints attached to her nursing record. But she was most “horrified” how Womack posed as a nurse without any medical training, potentially endangering the lives of countless patients.
“I wondered how someone could be so bold to use my name and license,” she wrote.
Parham was one of two real nurses with the first name of Shannon who were listed as victims in the case.
When given a chance to address the court, Womack did not apologize to either one of the real nurses she impersonated, or any of the patients she endangered. Instead, she used her more than 10-minute prepared statement to discuss lofty goals of her rehabilitation and renewal since being jailed following her arrest in April 2025 following the traffic stop.
“I just feel like punishment over rehabilitation isn’t great,” said Womack, who was shackled and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit while standing next to her public defender, Patrick Fitch. “I’m trying to make myself sustainable and rehabilitated.”
She said she hoped others would not judge her actions or her addiction, while adding that everyone has issues they’re dealing with.
“People can pretend, but every pretending comes to an end,” Womack said.
Before sentencing, Costanzo asked Womack if she wanted to add anything to her statement to address the nurses and patients she affected.
“I know you had a lot to say,” Costanzo said. “Is there anything you want to say to the victims?”
“Yes,” Womack responded. “It takes a full amount to change.”
Womack, 40, of Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to felony counts of unlawful use of a computer, endangering the welfare of a care dependent person, acquisition of a controlled substance by fraud, corrupt organizations and carrying a firearm without a license, along with misdemeanor charges of falsely pretending to hold a professional license and theft by unlawful taking. After serving 4 ½ to 9 years in a state prison, Womack will also spend six years on probation.
In addition to impersonating nurses at the two care facilities in Washington County, 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 used fake staffing agencies to procure the shifts.
Womack was only charged in Washington County, although investigators said that Womack has warrants for identity fraud from Georgia, Tennessee, New Jersey and Indiana, dating back to 2020.