WAYLAND, Mich. — A Michigan woman has been sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for repeatedly posing as a registered nurse, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Leticia Gallarzo, 51, formerly of Wayland, Michigan, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to fraud and aggravated identity theft. Federal prosecutors say she fled Michigan while awaiting sentencing and obtained nursing jobs in Illinois and California using fake credentials.
Between August 2022 and May 2023, Gallarzo worked at a Michigan nursing home, presenting a fraudulent nursing license, diploma, and ID documents. She was even promoted to supervise other healthcare workers before her employer discovered the fraud and reported her to authorities. The FBI investigated the case.
Federal prosecutors noted that this is Gallarzo’s third conviction for posing as a nurse, with prior convictions in 2016 (Kent County, Michigan) and 2017 (Southern District of Texas).
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said:
“This is far more than a fraud case. Nurses make life and death decisions, and everyone has the right to expect their health is being managed by trained professionals. Gallarzo richly deserved the 75-month sentence.”
Officials confirmed that no patients were physically harmed by her actions.
