ProPublica's investigation reveals that Joseph Schwartz, owner of the Skyline Healthcare nursing home chain (~100 facilities, ~15,000 residents), was pardoned by Trump in November 2025 — just 3 months into his federal prison sentence for stealing $39 million in employee payroll taxes.
At least three families won multimillion-dollar wrongful death judgments against Schwartz, and none have collected a cent. The Coulson family was awarded nearly $19 million after Doris Coulson died when staff fed her solid food despite a “nothing by mouth” order — doctors found scrambled eggs in her lungs. The Grissom family was awarded $15.7 million after Zelma Grissom died of sepsis from bedsores left untreated.
Conditions at Schwartz's facilities: residents found in feces with maggots and gangrene. Employees buying food for residents out of pocket. Insurance premiums deducted from 1,000+ workers' paychecks but coverage never funded. Water and electric disconnect notices.
Schwartz paid over $1 million to lobbyists to secure the pardon — $960,000 to Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl (right-wing conspiracy figures), plus $100,000 to Josh Nass (later charged with extorting Schwartz). Trump ally Laura Loomer published false claims that Schwartz had “paid back every dime” — versions of her narrative appeared in the White House's pardon justification.
Prosecutors said Schwartz still controlled $58 million+ in assets — but none were in his name. The pardon likely killed any IRS effort to recover the stolen taxes. The White House called him “an example of over prosecution.”