Leticia Gallarzo, 49, of Allegan County, pleaded guilty to using the identity of another person to obtain employment as a licensed registered nurse and to making false statements relating to healthcare matters. Gallarzo pleaded guilty to two federal crimes: making a false statement in a medical record affecting a healthcare benefit program and aggravated identity theft. The healthcare fraud charge is punishable by up to five years in prison. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two years in prison, which must be served consecutively (after) any prison sentence imposed for the healthcare fraud charge. The Court has not yet scheduled Gallarzo’s sentencing date.
According to court documents, Gallarzo falsely represented that she was a licensed registered nurse and had completed a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Davenport University when applying for a job at a local nursing facility. When transmitting her application to the prospective employer over the internet through Indeed.com, Gallarzo used the means of identification of someone that she knew to be an actual licensed registered nurse in the state of Michigan. After obtaining employment as a nurse, Gallarzo evaluated and assessed elderly nursing home patients and falsely signed electronic medical records as a licensed registered nurse. These false statements were related to Medicare, a healthcare benefit program, because the nursing home relied on Gallarzo’s status as a licensed registered nurse to meet certain Medicare regulations for participation in and billing of Medicare.
