A Baltimore County woman has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for impersonating nurses and committing aggravated identity theft. Thomasina E. Amponsah, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett to 38 months in prison after she used stolen nursing licenses to work as a registered nurse and licensed practical nurse without holding any legitimate credentials.
The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Maureen Dixon, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).
According to court documents, from September 2019 through August 2023, Amponsah used stolen nursing credentials and fabricated professional histories to secure jobs at over 40 health care facilities in Maryland. Most of these were skilled nursing centers providing rehabilitation and medical treatment staffed by trained professionals.
These facilities billed Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care programs for services provided by Amponsah under false pretenses. She also worked at a Baltimore City public school and multiple nursing homes during this period. Through her fraudulent employment, Amponsah earned more than $145,000 in wages.
In one instance, on August 21, 2019, Amponsah applied for a job at Nursing Facility 1 using a Maryland nursing license number belonging to another individual identified as T.R.S., including a duplicated image of the victim’s license. She altered her name on the application to include T.R.S.’s last name and falsely claimed prior experience as an LPN supervisor with a degree from Florida State University.
Amponsah was hired as an LPN at Nursing Facility 1 but was later terminated after admitting she forged a physician’s signature on a prescription form for Tramadol and faxed it to a pharmacy.
She also used another stolen identity when applying online for Staffing Agency 1 on July 18, 2021, submitting credentials belonging to Identity Victim E.A., along with falsified resumes and documentation. Between July 2021 and October 2022, she worked at least 21 skilled nursing facilities through this agency.
While working shifts arranged by Staffing Agency 1 at Nursing Facility 2 in October 2022, Amponsah failed to administer prescribed medications to patients and falsified medical records. After being confronted by both Staffing Agency 1 and Nursing Facility 2 about her unlicensed status—and subsequently terminated—she continued seeking employment using stolen credentials until August 2023.
U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the efforts of HHS-OIG in investigating the case: “U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HHS-OIG for its work in the investigation.” She also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph L. Wenner and Sean R. Delaney for prosecuting the case and recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for their assistance.
Additional information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office is available on its official website (https://www.justice.gov/usao-md) where resources are provided regarding office priorities and how to report fraud (https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach).
