Maryland Supreme Court Disbars Attorney Susan Engonwei Tingwei

On Friday, June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court of Maryland disbarred attorney Susan Engonwei Tingwei following a joint petition for disbarment by consent. The decision, effective immediately, stemmed from Tingwei’s violation of Maryland Rule 8.4(a)(b)(c)(d), which addresses professional misconduct.

The case is entitled “Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland v. Susan Engonwei Tingwei,” with case no. 14.

Tingwei’s disbarment followed her involvement in a Medicaid fraud scheme, for which she was sentenced to prison. According to a press release, between 2016 and 2018, Tingwei worked for two home health agencies in Washington, D.C., assisting Medicaid beneficiaries with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. She was required to document her services on timesheets, which the agencies used to bill Medicaid. Tingwei admitted to submitting fraudulent timesheets, claiming payment for services she did not provide.

The fraud occurred during a period when Tingwei was pursuing a Master of Laws degree at the University of Maryland, which she completed in May 2017. On 118 occasions between August 2016 and May 2017, she submitted timesheets indicating she was working as a personal care aide in Washington, D.C., while attending law school classes in Baltimore or traveling to and from the campus. For example, records showed her key card swiping in and out of the University of Maryland’s law school on days she claimed to be providing care in D.C. Cell phone data also confirmed her presence in Baltimore during those times.

Tingwei’s scheme, which began no later than August 2016 and continued until September 2018, defrauded the D.C. Medicaid program of $131,656.

The Disposition states:

“It is ORDERED that the joint petition is granted, and that, effective immediately, Respondent, Susan Engonwei Tingwei, is disbarred from the practice law in the State of Maryland for violation of Rule 8.4 (a), (b), (c), and (d) (misconduct) of the Maryland Attorneys’ Rules of Professional Conduct.”

According to Avvo.com, Ms. Tingwei was an attorney in Silver Spring, Maryland. She attended the Maryland School of Law.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.