BALTIMORE, MD (WBFF — An Owings Mills man is facing felony charges after authorities say he ran an unlicensed assisted living program in Baltimore City, a case the Spotlight on Maryland team has been following for months.
A Baltimore City grand jury indicted 39-year-old Daquan Dwight Thomas, owner and operator of Aim to Inspire Care Forever, for operating an assisted living program without a license, according to Attorney General Anthony Brown.
If convicted, Thomas could face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Daquan Thomas said that he is the founder of Aim to Inspire Care Forever Limited, a nonprofit running a multistory building on Garrison Boulevard in Walbrook Junction. He calls his business “supportive housing.” (Zackary Lang / Spotlight on Maryland)
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Charging documents show that Thomas applied for a license to operate an assisted living program in Jan. 2025 but was denied by the Maryland Department of Health’s Office of Health Care Quality in Jan. 2026.
On March 30, 2026, state and city agencies inspected Aim to Inspire Care Forever’s facility and found residents in need of assisted living care. The Baltimore City Fire Marshal determined the property was unsafe and relocated all residents to hospitals or licensed facilities.
Operating an unlicensed assisted living facility became a felony in Maryland two years ago, following bipartisan support in the General Assembly and advocacy from the attorney general’s office.
The Maryland Department of Health had previously issued an emergency suspension against Aim to Inspire Care Forever after a joint investigation with WBFF identified allegations of severe deficiencies, including the lack of nursing supervision, failure to provide medication management and cases where residents went 30 days without prescribed medicines.
State officials found the nonprofit was housing residents whose care needs exceeded its authority and had not completed required background checks and screenings for staff.
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George Gilliam, a resident of the property, told reporters he struggled to get basic necessities and feared speaking up would leave him homeless.
“I pay $765 a month for rent…I can stay here as long as I can pay my rent,” Gilliam said. “They give medication, they send you to the day program. Right now, I’m trying to get food stamps.”
George “Bobby” Gilliam, 62, is one of many older Marylanders with few housing options. (Zackary Lang / Spotlight on Maryland)
Thomas defended his organization and denied ignoring any reports of verbal abuse in previous interviews with WBFF.
According to Thomas, the nonprofit aimed to serve individuals who would otherwise be on the streets. He said services offered included housing, transportation, clothing and access to medical resources at a price point lower than most licensed facilities.
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“Typically, it just depends on the client,” Thomas said. “If the client needs assistance with medication management, if the client needs assistance with light housekeeping, if the client needs trips back and forth to appointments, anything of that nature.”
However, court documents and building records reveal ongoing legal issues for Thomas.
The property’s ownership group, 211 W Garrison LLC, filed for receivership and accused Thomas of running an illegal assisted living facility.
Bankruptcy records show Thomas has faced more than 15 years of financial challenges, including a $1.7-million judgment for unpaid rent at the Garrison Boulevard property.
Local hospitals, including LifeBridge Health, confirmed business ties to Thomas’s nonprofit, working together on medical respite care for discharged patients.
LifeBridge Health said, “We have no further comment.”
The state’s emergency suspension came after multiple investigations and inspections of the property. Officials involved told WBFF reporters that residents were found in poor condition, while fire and health authorities repeatedly inspected the facility.
Despite the law enacted to address such cases, Attorney General Brown’s office acknowledged that Thomas is the first person indicted under Maryland’s new law criminalizing unlicensed assisted living operations.
“One thing has become clear…unlicensed assisted living facilities are hotbeds for the abuse and exploitation of vulnerable victims who cannot speak for or protect themselves,” said W. Zak Shirley and Lisa Hyle Marts, leaders in the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit in the attorney general’s office.
A criminal indictment is an accusation of wrongdoing and Thomas is presumed innocent unless the state proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Have you experienced or have direct knowledge about unlicensed assisted living facilities operating in Maryland? Do you have a tip related to this story? Send news tips to gmcollins@sbgtv.com or contact Spotlight on Maryland’s hotline at (410) 467-4670.
Follow Gary Collins on X and Instagram. Spotlight on Maryland is a collaboration between FOX45 News, WJLA in Washington, D.C., and The Baltimore Sun.
This post was originally published on Fox 45 by Sinclair Media Group.
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