TRENTON - Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn L. McKoy announced that a Burlington County man has pleaded guilty to forgery for creating a phony document in order to gain employment as a physician’s assistant at a nursing home. Physician’s assistants are required to hold a State issued license before they assist doctors in the practice of medicine.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden Brown, Darryl Fisher, 37, of Shelburne Street, Burlington, pleaded guilty before Camden County Superior Court Judge Linda Baxter to a criminal Accusation filed by the Division of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor. The Accusation charged Fisher with forgery (3rd degree). When sentenced on Dec. 23, Fisher faces up to five years in state prison and a criminal fine of up to $15,000.

At the Nov. 4 guilty plea hearing, Fisher, who was employed at Wound Healing Associates (WHA) located in Camden County, admitted that between Oct. 1 and Nov. 31, 2003, he practiced as a physician’s assistant without being properly licensed. WHA is a Medicaid provider that contracted with nursing homes to treat residents and patients for wounds to include bed sores and similar wounds. An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice determined that Fisher created a fake assistant’s license. The investigation further revealed that Fisher worked for several months as a physician’s assistant, treating nursing home patients at WHA even though he did not possess a valid license.

State Investigator Jacqueline Latty and Deputy Attorney General Erik W. Daab were assigned to the investigation. DAG Daab represented the Division of Criminal - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at the guilty plea hearing.

# # #