Topline: Michigan woman sentenced to 75 months in prison for posing as a nurse with stolen IDs.
Published: February 10, 2026 1:55 pm ET
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Leticia Gallarzo (via Texas Board of Nursing/WWMT)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Michigan woman who used stolen identities to pose as a registered nurse and treat patients was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison on Jan. 26.
Leticia Gallarzo, 51, of Wayland, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.
Prosecutors said Gallarzo used falsified credentials to work at a nursing home, where she administered medical treatments and supervised staff despite lacking a nursing license.
Gallarzo was sentenced after being arrested near Los Angeles, following her flight from Michigan while awaiting sentencing in 2023. According to People Magazine, she worked as both a registered nurse and a physician assistant in Illinois and California during her time on the run.
Between August 2022 and May 2023, Gallarzo used the name and license number of a legitimate registered nurse to apply for positions through websites. She submitted a fabricated nursing diploma and a fake Michigan nursing license to her employer, according to KBTX.
While employed at a Michigan nursing facility, Gallarzo performed medical tasks including assessing patients and starting intravenous lines. She also administered medications and received a promotion to unit manager, which gave her oversight of other health care workers.
The scheme began to unravel when Gallarzo’s job performance declined, leading to her demotion. When she applied for a new position at a different facility, a prospective employer noticed discrepancies in her identity and reported her to the authorities.
Gallarzo pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2023. However, she failed to appear for her sentencing and left Michigan, as reported by People Magazine.
While on the run, Gallarzo secured work in other states using stolen credentials. Federal agents eventually located and arrested her in California before returning her to Michigan to face a judge.
This case represents Gallarzo’s third conviction for impersonating a nurse. According to KBTX, she was previously convicted of similar offenses in Michigan in 2016 and 2017.
In the press release, U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said Gallarzo “richly deserved” the 75-month sentence because nurses make critical decisions regarding patient care. He described the case as “far more than a fraud” due to the risks involved.
“This 75-month federal prison sentence sends a clear and unmistakable message: no one gets to lie about their credentials, falsify medical records, or steal identities without facing serious consequences,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
“Leticia Gallarzo abused the trust placed in medical professionals and put patients at risk. Because of the relentless work of the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, she can no longer fraudulently perform patient assessments or endanger this community,” Runyon continued.
Investigators reviewed Gallarzo’s work history and patient interactions at the Michigan facility. Surprisingly, they found no evidence of confirmed physical harm to the patients she treated.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: February 10, 2026 1:55 pm ET
Leticia Gallarzo (via Texas Board of Nursing/WWMT)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Michigan woman who used stolen identities to pose as a registered nurse and treat patients was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison on Jan. 26.
Leticia Gallarzo, 51, of Wayland, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.
Prosecutors said Gallarzo used falsified credentials to work at a nursing home, where she administered medical treatments and supervised staff despite lacking a nursing license.
Gallarzo was sentenced after being arrested near Los Angeles, following her flight from Michigan while awaiting sentencing in 2023. According to People Magazine, she worked as both a registered nurse and a physician assistant in Illinois and California during her time on the run.
Between August 2022 and May 2023, Gallarzo used the name and license number of a legitimate registered nurse to apply for positions through websites. She submitted a fabricated nursing diploma and a fake Michigan nursing license to her employer, according to KBTX.
While employed at a Michigan nursing facility, Gallarzo performed medical tasks including assessing patients and starting intravenous lines. She also administered medications and received a promotion to unit manager, which gave her oversight of other health care workers.
The scheme began to unravel when Gallarzo’s job performance declined, leading to her demotion. When she applied for a new position at a different facility, a prospective employer noticed discrepancies in her identity and reported her to the authorities.
Gallarzo pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2023. However, she failed to appear for her sentencing and left Michigan, as reported by People Magazine.
While on the run, Gallarzo secured work in other states using stolen credentials. Federal agents eventually located and arrested her in California before returning her to Michigan to face a judge.
This case represents Gallarzo’s third conviction for impersonating a nurse. According to KBTX, she was previously convicted of similar offenses in Michigan in 2016 and 2017.
In the press release, U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said Gallarzo “richly deserved” the 75-month sentence because nurses make critical decisions regarding patient care. He described the case as “far more than a fraud” due to the risks involved.
“This 75-month federal prison sentence sends a clear and unmistakable message: no one gets to lie about their credentials, falsify medical records, or steal identities without facing serious consequences,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
“Leticia Gallarzo abused the trust placed in medical professionals and put patients at risk. Because of the relentless work of the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, she can no longer fraudulently perform patient assessments or endanger this community,” Runyon continued.
Investigators reviewed Gallarzo’s work history and patient interactions at the Michigan facility. Surprisingly, they found no evidence of confirmed physical harm to the patients she treated.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Fugitive Fake Nurse Sentenced to 6 Years for Fraudulent Care
Michigan woman sentenced to 75 months in prison for posing as a nurse with stolen IDs.
By Kate Byrd
Published: February 10, 2026 1:55 pm ET
Leticia Gallarzo (via Texas Board of Nursing/WWMT)
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Michigan woman who used stolen identities to pose as a registered nurse and treat patients was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison on Jan. 26.
Leticia Gallarzo, 51, of Wayland, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.
Prosecutors said Gallarzo used falsified credentials to work at a nursing home, where she administered medical treatments and supervised staff despite lacking a nursing license.
Gallarzo was sentenced after being arrested near Los Angeles, following her flight from Michigan while awaiting sentencing in 2023. According to People Magazine, she worked as both a registered nurse and a physician assistant in Illinois and California during her time on the run.
Between August 2022 and May 2023, Gallarzo used the name and license number of a legitimate registered nurse to apply for positions through websites. She submitted a fabricated nursing diploma and a fake Michigan nursing license to her employer, according to KBTX.
While employed at a Michigan nursing facility, Gallarzo performed medical tasks including assessing patients and starting intravenous lines. She also administered medications and received a promotion to unit manager, which gave her oversight of other health care workers.
The scheme began to unravel when Gallarzo’s job performance declined, leading to her demotion. When she applied for a new position at a different facility, a prospective employer noticed discrepancies in her identity and reported her to the authorities.
Gallarzo pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2023. However, she failed to appear for her sentencing and left Michigan, as reported by People Magazine.
While on the run, Gallarzo secured work in other states using stolen credentials. Federal agents eventually located and arrested her in California before returning her to Michigan to face a judge.
This case represents Gallarzo’s third conviction for impersonating a nurse. According to KBTX, she was previously convicted of similar offenses in Michigan in 2016 and 2017.
In the press release, U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said Gallarzo “richly deserved” the 75-month sentence because nurses make critical decisions regarding patient care. He described the case as “far more than a fraud” due to the risks involved.
“This 75-month federal prison sentence sends a clear and unmistakable message: no one gets to lie about their credentials, falsify medical records, or steal identities without facing serious consequences,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
“Leticia Gallarzo abused the trust placed in medical professionals and put patients at risk. Because of the relentless work of the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, she can no longer fraudulently perform patient assessments or endanger this community,” Runyon continued.
Investigators reviewed Gallarzo’s work history and patient interactions at the Michigan facility. Surprisingly, they found no evidence of confirmed physical harm to the patients she treated.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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