| For Immediate Release Case # TBA
January 29, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FAKE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ILLEGALLY TREATING PATIENT
AND STEALING IDENTITY OF LICENSED
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
*The District Attorney is asking for the public’s help in identifying potential additional victims
SANTA ANA – A fake physician assistant has been arrested and charged with using a stolen identity to be hired at Orange County medical facilities and treating a patient without a license. Steve Armand Martinez, 60, San Juan Capistrano, is charged with one felony count of the unauthorized practice of medicine, two felony counts of identity theft, one felony count of identity theft with the intent to defraud, and one felony count of theft with a prior conviction for a 2004 theft. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in state prison if convicted. Martinez was arrested today on a $30,000 warrant. His arraignment date and Department at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana are to be determined.
Martinez is accused of falsely representing himself to several medical facilities as a licensed physician assistant by providing a resume containing false information and listing a true physician assistant identification number. Martinez has never been licensed and is accused of stealing an identification number from an actual licensed physician assistant.
Between Jan. 12, 2006, and Jan. 20, 2006, Martinez is accused of practicing medicine without a license after getting hired by using false information at Pure Life Medical Center in Irvine. Martinez is accused of illegally practicing medical services on one known victim, a 36-year-old man, by taking the victim’s blood and administering an intravenous drip.
On or about Jan. 10, 2007, Martinez is accused of again getting hired by using false information at San Clemente Medi-Center after representing himself as a licensed physician assistant and providing a fake resume with the stolen physician assistant identification number. While working at this facility, Martinez is accused of stealing cash that was paid by a patient while doing clerical work at the reception desk.
The Medical Board of California (MBC) began investigating this case after receiving a complaint from a co-worker of Martinez, who discovered that the physician assistant license number belonged to another person. The case was then presented to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA).
The investigation is ongoing. The OCDA and MBC are investigating whether Martinez has committed similar crimes at other facilities and illegally treated additional patients. On his resume, the defendant is accused of claiming to have worked at Martin Luther Hospital Medical Center in Anaheim, South County Urgent Care Center, and San Clemente Hospital. He may also have worked at unknown facilities in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim in this case is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Anthony Sosnowski at (714) 347-8814 or the Medical Board of California.