(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost today announced the indictment and arrest of a Hamilton County man who allegedly impersonated a nurse for almost four years using a stolen identity. Several patients under his care were children.
Martez Rhandell Morris, 27, is facing 12 charges, including felony counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, identity fraud and tampering with records. He was taken into custody today.
“The only reason we charged him with this is because there’s no law against impersonating a human being,” Yost said.
An investigation by Yost’s Health Care Fraud Section uncovered evidence that Morris stole the identity of a licensed practical nurse and used fraudulent documents to gain employment at two home health agencies in the Cincinnati area.
The indictment says Morris has provided nursing services without a legitimate nursing license since late 2015.
Attorneys from Yost’s office are prosecuting the case. Below is a summary of the charges:
- Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity: 1 Count (F1)
- Identity Fraud Against a Person in a Protected Class: 1 Count (F2)
- Identity Fraud: 1 Count (F3)
- Tampering with Records: 1 Count (F3)
- Telecommunications Fraud: 1 Count (F3)
- Medicaid Fraud: 1 Count (F4)
- Falsification in a Theft Offense: 1 Count (F4)
- Practicing Nursing Without a License: 2 Counts (F5)
- Endangering Children: 3 Counts (M1)