For those brave enough to enter the healthcare industry, most credit a caring heart and empathy for others as primary reasons for entering the field. Over the years, nurses have been especially known for tending to their patients' needs.
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However, some medical staff have found themselves on the other side of the law. Take 71-year-old Rosanne Marquis, who is facing a host of crimes. Marquis, a former trauma nurse, has been charged with 77 felonies for operating an unlicensed home care business.
While running the business, Marquis is accused of stealing from elderly dependent adults and failing to submit accurate tax returns for her business, according to court documents obtained by the Santa Barbara Independent.
One of her alleged victims is a retired veteran.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch said the 71-year-old former nurse failed to file accurate tax return documents for years while financially swindling her elderly patients.
Rosanne Marquis Allegedly Stole Over $100k From Her Victims
Officials have not yet disclosed how much Marquis allegedly stole, but court records state the theft amounted to "over $100,000."
Marquis has previously served on the boards of the Council of Alcohol and Drug Abuse and the Alzheimer's Women's Initiative, the Santa Barbara Independent reported.
Before launching Rosanne Marquis HomeCare Service under a phony address, the suspect worked as a trauma nurse coordinator at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Now, the former nurse could face a hefty fine and a lengthy jail stint for her actions. Operating an unlicensed business, especially in the medical field, carries a steep penalty in the state of California.
Local authorities have partnered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the California Employment Development Department to prosecute the case.
Marquis was arrested in April and formally charged this week. She remains out on bail. Marquis is scheduled for a court hearing on July 8.
