Fake nurse used stolen identities to work at multiple California hospitals, cops say
A woman accused of posing as a nurse under a stolen identity and working at multiple hospitals without a nursing license has been arrested and charged, California police say.
Amanda Leeann Porter, 44, of Virginia, was charged with three felonies stemming from her impersonation of a nurse at a Burbank hospital earlier this year, the Burbank Police Department said in a Nov. 14 news release.
In May, Burbank police got a report about a woman “who allegedly impersonated a registered nurse at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center,” the department said.
Through investigation “over the next few months,” detectives identified Porter as a suspect, police said.
After applying for a job at the hospital, she was hired as a nurse and started “overseeing approximately 60 patients that came under her care between” April and May, police said.
Soon, however, staff realized “Porter was impersonating a real registered nurse, who lived out of state,” according to police.
Porter does not have a nursing license and “is on federal probation for a fraud violation” out of Virginia, police said.
In an emailed statement to McClatchy News, a Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center spokesperson said Porter “was promptly terminated once it was determined that her nursing credentials had been falsified.”
“As a new hire, this employee was in her orientation phase, and as such was partnered with a training nurse during the five nursing shifts she worked in our hospital,” the spokesperson said.
Hospital staff notified state and local authorities about Porter, as well as any patients who received her care, the spokesperson said.
Before Porter was fired, she received two paychecks, police said.
Porter continued to use false identities to find employment in Southern California, police said.
After a “similar violation” at a Santa Clarita hospital, Porter was arrested on Nov. 7, according to police and online jail records.
She was released after posting $75,000 bond, jail records show.
However, she was arrested the same day by Burbank police.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Porter with identity theft, false impersonation and grand theft on Nov. 12, according to police.
Porter was arraigned the next day and is being held without bail, according to police.
Police said they believe Porter may have impersonated a nurse at other medical facilities in the Southern California area over the past year.
Anyone with information is asked to contact local law enforcement or Burbank Police Detective Arias at 818-238-3210.
This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 8:24 AM with the headline "Fake nurse used stolen identities to work at multiple California hospitals, cops say."
