Washington, D.C. – A former direct care giver, Marlo Chaney, who worked for RCM of Washington, Inc. (RCM), which operated a residential group home for individuals with developmental disabilities, has been found guilty and sentenced for criminal neglect of a 54-year-old vulnerable adult in March 2008, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor and District of Columbia Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby announced today.

On August 12, 2008, Marlo Chaney, 33, of Fort Washington, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Negligence in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Craig Iscoe. Judge Iscoe sentenced Chaney to 180 days in prison, all suspended, and two years of supervised probation. Chaney was also ordered to undergo drug testing and treatment. Judge Iscoe imposed an order prohibiting Chaney from working with vulnerable populations, such as the disabled, elderly, and children. In addition, Chaney was ordered to perform 16 hours of community service and was specifically advised that such service could not be with vulnerable populations. She also was ordered to pay $50 to the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Fund.

According to the government's evidence, on March 1, 2008, the defendant was employed as a support associate with the responsibility of caring for vulnerable adults diagnosed with severe mental retardation. Another care giver present at the group home saw the defendant dragging the victim on a carpeted floor in the group home causing a carpet burn injury to his right thigh.

In announcing the conviction and sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor and Inspector General Willoughby praised the work of Patient Abuse Investigator Jonathan Rich of the OIG Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) for his investigation of the neglect. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Willoughby also commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Klein and the MFCU Attorneys who jointly prosecuted the case.