Grand Rapids, Michigan: A federal court has sentenced Leticia Gallarzo, 51, to more than six years in prison for repeatedly impersonating licensed healthcare professionals and using stolen identities to obtain medical jobs across several states.
On January 26, 2026, U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney sentenced Gallarzo to 75 months in federal prison after she admitted to committing healthcare fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was announced a day later by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan.
Court records show that between August 2022 and May 2023, Gallarzo falsely assumed the identity of a licensed registered nurse to secure employment at a Michigan nursing home.
She submitted forged documents, including a fake nursing license, falsified diplomas, and fraudulent identification, to convince the facility that she was properly credentialed. Once hired, Gallarzo carried out hands-on nursing duties that included administering medication, starting intravenous lines, and assessing patients.
Her deception went undetected long enough for her to be promoted to unit manager, a role in which she supervised other healthcare workers. However, performance issues eventually led to her demotion.
The fraud came to light when a prospective employer discovered inconsistencies in her credentials and notified authorities.
Federal prosecutors charged Gallarzo on September 26, 2023, with fraud and aggravated identity theft. She pleaded guilty in October 2023, accepting responsibility for using another person’s identity to obtain employment and income in the healthcare sector.
Before sentencing, Gallarzo fled the Western District of Michigan and continued her fraudulent behavior in other parts of the country.
Authorities said she obtained healthcare jobs in Illinois and California, once again using stolen identities. In these cases, she falsely presented herself not only as a nurse but also as a physician assistant.
Law enforcement officers eventually arrested her near Los Angeles, California, and transported her back to Michigan to face sentencing.
This case marks Gallarzo’s third conviction for impersonating a nurse.
In 2016, she was convicted by the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for similar conduct. A year later, in 2017, she was convicted again by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Despite those convictions, Gallarzo continued to fraudulently enter healthcare settings, putting patient safety at risk.
U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said patients and healthcare facilities rely on nurses to be properly trained, licensed, and qualified to make critical medical decisions. While investigators found no evidence that Gallarzo physically harmed patients, VerHey noted that the lack of injury was more a matter of luck than skill.
Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said the sentence sends a clear message that falsifying credentials and stealing identities will result in serious consequences.
The case was investigated by the FBI Detroit Division, Grand Rapids Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Stella handled the prosecution.
Federal officials said the case underscores the dangers of healthcare fraud and the importance of verifying professional credentials to protect vulnerable patients.
