Occupational Therapist Impersonator Charged with Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Identity Theft

ORLANDO—United States Attorney Robert E. O’Neill announces the unsealing of a nine-count indictment charging James Lewis, a/k/a James Lee Lewis, (44, Kissimmee) with three counts of mail fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each mail/wire fraud charge and two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence, for the aggravated identity theft charge.

According to the indictment, in March 2009, Lewis fraudulently obtained a temporary occupational therapist (OT) license from the Florida Department of Health by using a false name, Social Security number, and fabricated education credentials. Between March 2009 and July 2011, Lewis worked as an OT at various health care facilities in Central Florida and received his salary using electronic funds transfers.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of the federal criminal laws, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Florida Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance-Orlando Unlicensed Activity Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.