Martin Indictment

TRENTON – Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson today announced that a former Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) was indicted for allegedly committing reckless manslaughter in Absecon, NJ. A Registered Nurse was also indicted for allegedly falsifying a record at Absecon Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (“Absecon Manor”) related to a patient’s medical care.

The following defendants were charged as follows in an indictment returned by a grand jury on February 3, 2022:

• Margaret M. Martin, 63, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., was indicted on one count of second-degree reckless manslaughter. The grand jury indictment alleges that on or about July 28, 2017, LPN Martin committed manslaughter by causing the death of an individual.

•                          was indicted on fourth-degree destruction, falsification or alteration of records relating to medical care. The grand jury indictment alleges that on or about July 28 and 29, 2017,                          purposely falsified a record relating to the medical care of a patient at Absecon Manor.

The New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs reports that Martin’s LPN license was revoked by Consent Order on September 8, 2017.

SDAG Michael Klein presented the case to the grand jury for the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) within the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor under the supervision of MFCU SDAG Peter Sepulveda, and Deputy Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Al Garcia. The investigation was conducted by Detectives within the MFCU under the supervision of Lt. Joseph Jaruszewski and Deputy Chief Rich King.  This matter was referred to the NJ MFCU by the NJ Department of Health.

Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Fourth-degree charges carry a sentence of up to 18 months in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The charges are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

New Jersey’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling approximately $4.1 million for Federal fiscal year (“FY”) 2022. The remaining 25 percent, totaling approximately $1.3 million for FY 2022, is funded by New Jersey.

Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Tracy M. Thompson noted that many NJ MFCU cases have started with referrals and anonymous tips. People who are concerned about patient or resident abuse or neglect in health care facilities receiving Medicaid funding such as nursing homes, or Medicaid beneficiaries who reside in any other setting outside their home where care is provided to them, can report it anonymously by calling 609-292-1272 or by e-mailing NJMFCU@njdcj.org, or by visiting the website.  Abuse and/or neglect means both physical abuse or neglect and financial pertaining to money or property abuse or neglect.

Defense Attorneys: Undetermined

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