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Woman Could Face Life In Prison For Performing Phony DOT Physical Exams

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A Pennsylvania woman was indicted on several charges after she allegedly used the identity of a physician to perform fraudulent $65 physical exams on truck drivers out of her home.

A federal grand jury has indicted 58 year old Joann Wingate on charges of wire fraud, submitting false documents, and aggravated identify theft for performing unlicensed physical exams on truckers.

Trucker Tips Off Cops To Fraudulent Examiner

Police first learned of Wingate’s activities when they received a report from a trucker in June 2014. That driver said that he contacted Wingate after seeing an advertisement at a truck stop. He told police that he thought it was odd that she had driven him to her house to perform the $65 exam, but said that she did everything that a normal doctor would do. It wasn’t until he was contacted by the California DOT about problems with his CDL that he started researching Wingate on the internet and later contacted police.

Woman Used Another Doctor’s ID To Dupe Drivers And DOT

According to investigators, Wingate was once a licensed chiropractor, but her license expired in 2014 and was not renewed. After her license expired, she is accused of using the identity of a licensed psychiatrist who also had the last name “Wingate”  to administer physical exams to CDL holders.

Police discovered Wingate had an agreement with a Carlisle-based trucking company and performed drug testing on truck drivers, though she was not qualified to do so. Prosecutors say that Wingate also sent fraudulent medical documents to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

If convicted, Wingate faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Sources:
WITF
Central Penn Business Journal
ABC 27
Penn Live
Cumberlink

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