A Laredo resident has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for impersonating a licensed nurse, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
36-year-old Nora Nely Avila pleaded guilty to false statements in a healthcare matter on January 3, 2021.
U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Avila to serve 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The court heard evidence that Avila took out stitches from a patient’s wound, leading to an infection, and also falsified patient records, failed to show up to work, and left patients without needed care.
Avila admitted to impersonating a nurse and performing unlicensed work at multiple hospitals and home health companies in the Laredo area from January 2017 through December 2019.
The defendant also stole the identity of a licensed nurse and repeatedly presented the license and credentials of this licensed nurse at federally-funded Medicare and Medicaid providers throughout Laredo.
Avila was previously released on bond and permitted to remain on bond and surrender at a later date, but was ultimately taken into custody to serve her sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson prosecuted the case.
As a result of her conviction, Judge Ellison entered a money judgment against Avila for $52,241.66.
Avila’s crimes also included obtaining employment as a nurse trainer in the federal-funded Job Corps program and being assigned to train future nurses, while still impersonating a licensed nurse.
The sentence highlights the consequences of impersonating a licensed professional in a critical field like healthcare, where patients trust their lives to trained and certified medical professionals.
Avila’s actions put patients at risk and wasted taxpayer dollars through Medicare and Medicaid funding.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying credentials and conducting thorough background checks in the healthcare industry.
The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement and the Department of Justice to protecting the public from individuals who would deceive and endanger them for personal gain.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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