KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Virginia man was arrested in Johnson County, Kansas for allegedly posing as a doctor.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Virginia, 30-year-old Vishal Patel used identification details of real doctors to pose as one for online job applications.
Prosecutors say Patel obtained this information by posing as a real doctor and contacting several oversight agencies. He told those groups to change the doctors’ records so it would appear those records would be associated with Patel.
Along with using those details, prosecutors say Patel also created fake degrees and certificates to try to prove his education.
This scheme allegedly allowed Patrol to work as an independent contractor at medical staffing companies and at a free clinic in Newport News, Va. During his time at that clinic, investigators say Patel saw around two dozen patients.
According to court documents, the clinic then fired Patel when they could not verify his credentials.
Prosecutors charged Patel with wire fraud, furnishing false information in a DEA record, mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, if convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
