A Las Cruces equine therapist has been sentenced to five years in prison after admitting she stole the identities of her own patients, including children, to fabricate counseling records and bill Medicaid for services that were never provided. Nancy Marshall, who owned Equine Assisted Programs of Southern New Mexico, pleaded guilty to two counts each of Medicaid fraud, falsification of documents and identity theft in a case involving nearly $1 million in alleged fraudulent claims.
According to the KTSM 9 News report, Marshall fraudulently billed New Mexico Medicaid for more than $970,000, per the New Mexico Attorney General's Office. Investigators allege she billed for treatment of children and that she used other therapists' National Provider Identifier numbers to submit improper claims. Marshall was ultimately held responsible for the alleged amount stolen, according to the AG's office.
How the Scheme Was Uncovered
The case came to light as the New Mexico Department of Justice investigated Equine Assisted Programs, based in Las Cruces.
State investigators with the New Mexico Department of Justice's Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau cross-referenced patient records as part of an investigation. The case involved allegations of stolen identities and fabricated records.
From 18 Felony Counts to a Plea Deal
A Doña Ana County grand jury originally indicted Marshall on 18 felony counts in March 2025, including one count of fraud, nine counts of Medicaid fraud, six counts of document falsification and two counts of identity theft, according to the U.S. HHS Office of Inspector General. Had she been convicted on every count, Marshall faced a maximum statutory penalty of up to 82.5 years in prison, the OIG notes.
Marshall instead resolved the case by pleading guilty to six felony counts, agreeing to a deal that carries five years in prison followed by five years of probation. The case involved allegations that she stole identities and fabricated records.
Remanded After Failing to Appear With Required Restitution
Marshall's plea deal called for five years in prison followed by five years of probation.
The alleged false billings exceeded $970,000, per that report. The criminal case involved those alleged billings.
A Program Built on Horses and Trust
Equine Assisted Programs of Southern New Mexico had been established in Las Cruces as a behavioral therapy practice. The case later centered on allegations of identity theft and fabricated records.
The Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau investigated Marshall's case.
Part of a Broader Enforcement Push
Marshall's case is not an isolated one in Doña Ana County. Hoodline previously reported that a Las Cruces grand jury indicted another local healthcare worker, Margarita Gonzalez, on 34 felony counts in May 2026, including identity theft and Medicaid fraud, for allegedly posing as a registered nurse at area care facilities. Both cases were investigated by the same specialized state bureau.
The case highlights concerns about fraud and identity theft affecting vulnerable residents.
