KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A 51-year-old Michigan woman has been sentenced to 75 months in federal prison after authorities uncovered a long-running scheme in which she used stolen identities and forged credentials to secure health care jobs — including as a registered nurse and physician’s assistant. Prosecutors described the case as a serious breach of trust that put vulnerable patients at risk, even though no confirmed physical injuries have been reported.
Identity Theft and Fake Credentials Land Major Prison Term
Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Michigan announced that the woman, previously from Wayland, was ordered to serve more than six years behind bars after pleading guilty to fraud and aggravated identity theft. Between August 2022 and May 2023, she secured employment at a Michigan nursing home by submitting a counterfeit nursing license, fake diploma and forged identification under another person’s name.
Once hired, she went beyond routine duties — administering medications, initiating intravenous lines, conducting patient assessments and even supervising other healthcare workers after being promoted to unit manager.
Flight, Further Fraud and Arrest in California
When her performance began to falter, the nursing home flagged irregularities, prompting an investigation that led to her true identity being exposed. At that point, she fled Michigan while awaiting sentencing and continued working fraudulently in both Illinois and California, claiming to be a nurse and physician’s assistant.
She was eventually located near Los Angeles and brought back to Michigan to face sentencing. This marks at least the third time she has been convicted of posing as a nurse, with previous convictions in 2016 and 2017 in Michigan and Texas.
Officials Warn of Risk and Breach of Trust
U.S. attorneys and federal agents emphasized that impersonating healthcare professionals poses significant risks to patient safety and undermines trust in medical systems. While investigators have not identified verified harm, officials said the danger was real given her duties involved clinical care and decision-making.
The sentence is intended to send a clear message that fraudulent use of credentials and stolen identities to gain healthcare employment will result in stiff federal penalties.
