Occupational Therapist Impersonator Sentenced to Prison for Mail Fraud and Identity Theft

ORLANDO—U.S. District Judge Roy Dalton sentenced James Lewis, a/k/a James Lee Lewis (44, Kissimmee), today to five years and five months in federal prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Lewis pleaded guilty on December 18, 2012.

According to court documents, in March 2009, Lewis fraudulently obtained a temporary occupational therapist (OT) license from the Florida Department of Health. To obtain the temporary license, Lewis used a false name and Social Security number and fabricated his education credentials. Between March 2009 and July 2011, Lewis worked as an OT at various health care facilities in Central Florida and New Mexico and received his wages using Electronic Funds Transfers. On January 17, 2013, Lewis’ bond was revoked after the government discovered that he had again applied to work as an occupational therapist in Central Florida, using fraudulent information.

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 was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haas.