UPDATE: A Baltimore County woman, Thomasina Amponsah, has been sentenced to 38 months in federal prison for impersonating a nurse across more than 40 health care facilities in Maryland. This urgent verdict was delivered by U.S. Senior District Judge Richard D. Bennett on Tuesday, confirming serious breaches of trust in the health care system.
Amponsah, 51, pleaded guilty in August to federal identity theft charges after using stolen credentials to secure positions at various nursing facilities, staffing agencies, and even a public school from 2019 to 2023. Her fraudulent activities endangered patients, as she was responsible for administering care at facilities funded by Medicaid and Medicare.
Court documents reveal that Amponsah not only worked with vulnerable patients but also failed to provide them with prescribed medications and falsified numerous medical records. Alarmingly, she continued her impersonation as a “licensed nurse” even after being fired from two jobs by October 2022, maintaining her deceit until August 2023.
In addition to her prison sentence, Amponsah is ordered to pay over $145,000 in restitution and undergo three years of supervised release once her prison term ends. This ruling represents the maximum sentence permissible under her plea agreement, highlighting the severity of her actions.
Amponsah’s attorney, federal public defender Christina Wong, has not responded to requests for comment. The case raises critical questions about patient safety and the integrity of health care systems during the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic.
This developing story underscores the urgent need for enhanced verification processes in healthcare hiring practices. As authorities continue to address this breach of trust, the case serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks posed by identity theft in sensitive professions.
For further updates, stay tuned as this story unfolds. If you have any news tips, contact Luke Parker at [email protected] or on X as @lparkernews.
