Baltimore County Woman Pleads Guilty to Impersonating Nurses, Defrauding Health Facilities

A Baltimore County woman has admitted to a scheme involving the fraudulent impersonation of nurses across Maryland, ultimately pleading guilty to charges of false statements in healthcare matters and aggravated identity theft. The defendant, Thomasina E. Amponsah, 50, of Baltimore County, used stolen nursing licenses and fabricated credentials to secure employment as a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse, despite never possessing a nursing license of her own. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced the guilty plea, highlighting the collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General in the investigation.

Between September 2019 and August 2023, Amponsah allegedly employed stolen nursing credentials, alongside false educational and professional histories, to gain work as a licensed nurse at more than 40 healthcare facilities throughout Maryland. Many of these facilities were skilled nursing centers specializing in in-patient rehabilitation and medical treatment, relying on trained medical professionals to provide care. The services Amponsah provided were billed to federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Her employment also extended to a public school in Baltimore City and multiple other nursing homes. Through this fraudulent activity, Amponsah reportedly earned at least $100,000 in wages.

In one instance, Amponsah submitted a job application in August 2019 to a nursing facility, using the Maryland nursing license number of an individual identified as Identity Victim T.R.S. This application also included a duplicated image of the victim’s nursing license. Furthermore, Amponsah altered her own name to include the last name of Identity Victim T.R.S. and falsely claimed to have previously worked as an LPN supervisor and to hold a nursing degree from Florida State University, neither of which were true. Following this fraudulent application, she was hired as an LPN by the facility but was later terminated after admitting to forging a physician’s signature on a prescription for Tramadol, an opioid painkiller.

Amponsah also admitted to utilizing a second stolen identity to secure nursing positions. In July 2021, she submitted an online job application to a staffing agency, which connects nurses with shifts at partner facilities. For this application, Amponsah used a Florida nursing license number belonging to Identity Victim E.A., along with a duplicated image of that victim’s license and a fabricated resume. Between July 2021 and October 2022, Amponsah, through this staffing agency, worked at least 21 different skilled nursing facilities. During shifts at one facility in October 2022, she reportedly failed to administer prescribed medication to several patients and falsified medical records. Despite being confronted and eventually terminated by both the staffing agency and the facility for working as an unlicensed nurse, Amponsah continued to seek and accept employment using the stolen identities of Identity Victim T.R.S. and Identity Victim E.A.

Amponsah faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison for the false statements related to healthcare matters. Additionally, she faces a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors. Sentencing for Amponsah is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12, at 2:30 p.m.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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