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Nelson Leone Admits to Identity Theft in Medical Marijuana Scam
A San Diego man pleaded guilty to identity theft in federal court for forging a doctor’s signature and using their name and license to issue medical marijuana recommendations.
Nelson Leone, 72, of San Diego, California, pleaded guilty to identity theft in connection with his ownership and operation of six medical marijuana clinics in San Diego County.
According to his website, Leone’s clinics were supposed to provide patients with access to a ‘licensed physician’ that would evaluate them in his clinic for a medical condition.
However, five of the six clinics did not have a licensed medical doctor, and Leone issued medical marijuana recommendations to customers at the other five clinics under his sole doctor’s name and license number.
Leone was stripped of his medical license in 1995 and employed a licensed doctor at just one of the six clinics to meet with customers and issue medical marijuana recommendations.
‘It is simply unacceptable to have someone forge a doctor’s signature for their own personal financial gain,’ said U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy.
As part of his plea, Leone agreed to shut down the six Green Cross Evaluations clinics.
Leone is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge M. James Lorenz.
The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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