The owner of Dependable Nursing Care, a nurse staffing company based in Gaithersburg, Md., pleaded guilty to one count of felony medicaid fraud for submitting multiple false claims over a period of more than two-and-a-half years, the Maryland Attorney General’s office reported.

According to an investigation by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Deanne Grant, 47, owned and operated Dependable Nursing Care, a nurse staffing company that provides certified nursing assistants and nurse monitors for home health care under the Maryland Medicaid program. According to the investigation, between Jan. 10, 2008, and Aug. 15, 2010, Grant falsely submitted claims for 69 dates of service on behalf of 11 separate recipients that were never rendered.

Dependable Nursing Care is believed to have ceased operations in August 2010, according to the Maryland Attorney General.

Grant was sentenced to 364 days probation, 80 hours of community service and ordered to pay restitution of $3,385.14 to the Maryland Medicaid program, plus $2,500 to be paid to the Office of the Attorney General.

Additionally, Grant in July 2013 reached a civil settlement with the Office of the Attorney General on behalf of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and paid an additional $5,885.14.

“Most service providers treat Medicaid and the Marylanders who depend on it with respect and honesty,” said Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler. “We hope this case sends a message to the few bad actors out there who try to cheat Maryland Medicaid: We will catch you and you will pay the price.”