Attorney General Kwame Raoul has announced charges against Mona Marks, a 54-year-old woman from Gary, Indiana, for alleged criminal neglect that resulted in the death of an elderly patient under her care in Chicago. At the time of the incident, Marks was providing in-home caregiving services through the Department on Aging’s Waiver Program via Molina Healthcare, an Illinois Managed Care Plan.
Marks faces four counts of criminal neglect of an elderly person as Class 2 felonies, each carrying a potential sentence of up to seven years in prison. She is also charged with four counts of criminal neglect as Class 3 felonies, which are punishable by up to five years each.
Previously, in September 2025, Raoul’s office charged Marks with Medicaid fraud and two counts of theft—also Class 2 felonies—for allegedly billing for home services she did not provide to the same patient. That case remains pending. Sentencing decisions will be made by the court.
Marks’ next court appearance for all charges is scheduled for March 9 in Cook County.
“Patients and their families place their trust in those who provide care in a patient’s home. For any in-home caregiver to take advantage of our most vulnerable residents and a valuable program end-of-life care is hearth wrenching,” Raoul said. “I am committed to protecting older Illinoisans by holding accountable those who use their positions as caregivers to abuse or neglect their patients and defraud the people of Illinois.”
According to Raoul’s office, between December 2021 and December 2022, Marks was assigned to care for an 85-year-old woman at her Chicago residence. Home caregivers typically assist with daily tasks such as eating, changing clothes and bedding, bathing, and administering medication.
The Attorney General’s office alleges that on November 21, 2022, the patient was admitted to a hospital in Evergreen Park in an emaciated condition due to improper nutrition and was treated for several skin problems—including a severe gangrene sacral ulcer—attributed to poor hygiene care. The patient died on December 13, 2022 from complications related to a bone infection and sacral wound.
The prosecution follows an investigation by Raoul’s Medicaid Fraud Bureau that discovered evidence of neglect while examining allegations of fraud against Marks.
The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
In 2023, responsibility for Illinois’ Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) shifted to the Attorney General’s office. The MFCU investigates complex cases involving fraud against Medicaid and recovers funds taken from the program unlawfully. The unit receives most of its funding from a federal grant totaling $12.6 million for fiscal year 2026; state funding covers $4.2 million for fiscal year 2025.
Assistant Attorney General Daniel Duffy from Raoul’s Medicaid Fraud Bureau is prosecuting this case.
The Illinois Attorney General serves as the state’s chief legal authority with offices across Illinois offering resources for vulnerable groups such as seniors and promoting community safety and transparency (official website). The office advocates for consumer rights and supports residents through various programs (official website).