A certified nursing assistant, who was previously charged with the financial exploitation of an elderly man, has been indicted on charges related to her alleged thefts from patients at two Metro East area nursing homes.

Markeisha Hill, 35, of Granite City, was charged federally with six counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of access device fraud, and one count of possession of five or more identification documents.

Hill was the target of a court summons filed May 22. She is scheduled to be arraigned before U.S. Judge Mark Beatty at 10 a.m. June 10.

A five-page federal indictment filed May 21 indicates that Hill’s thefts began in 2019, when she worked as a home health care nurse. The loss in that case was “equal or greater than $1,000.”

According to the indictment, from Oct. 4, 2022 to June 29, Hill worked as a certified nursing assistant at University Nursing and Rehabilitation in Edwardsville and from August through November, she worked as a CNA at Meridian Village in Glen Carbon.

During her employment at each business, prosecutors allege, Hill stole patients’ personal identification to fraudulently use their debit and credit cards without their consent to make personal purchases greater than $1,000. As part of the financial fraud, prosecutors say, Hill illegally used five driver’s licenses or state IDs belonging to the victims.

Prosecutors allege that Hill used one person’s debit card to steal at least $1,000 between Oct. 25 and Nov. 22, 2019.

Between March 2, 2023 and Feb. 14, Hill allegedly used the debit or credit cards “to receive money, goods and other things of value.”

In October, Madison County prosecutors charged Hill with two counts of unlawful financial exploitation of an elderly person and theft of property over $5,000 by deception from an elderly person, all Class 2 felonies; and wire fraud, a Class 3 felony.

Class 2 felonies are punishable by three to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. Class 3 felonies are punishable by two to five years in prison or probation, and a fine of up to $25,000.

The Edwardsville Police Department said that between January and June 2023, Hill gained the trust of an elderly man and stole more than $5,000 from him and made online purchases.

Officials responsible for the federal investigation spoke of the need to be able to trust individuals who are responsible for caring for vulnerable elderly people in nursing facilities.

“Financial crimes against the elderly are prevalent, but it’s especially disturbing when nursing home patients are targeted and victimized by the medical professionals who are entrusted with their care,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe.

David Bolin, acting supervisor for the U.S. Secret Service Springfield Office, which played a role in the investigation, said that families of elderly people entrusted to nursing home facilities “expect their elderly family members to be treated with care,” and “That trust should never be violated.”

If Hill is convicted, access device (debit or credit cards) fraud is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment; aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory 2-year prison sentence; and possession of five or more IDs carries up to five years’ imprisonment.

Aud Crowe’s office said law enforcement with the U.S. Secret Service, and members of the Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Granite City police departments contributed to the investigation of Hill’s alleged activity.