A woman who allegedly worked at seven senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities using a stolen medical license is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, as well as potential fines, in South Carolina.
Alyssa Beth Steele is accused of practicing medicine as a registered nurse without a license in facilities across three jurisdictions between Jan. 15, 2020, and Jan. 19, 2022. She allegedly used a Georgia Board of Nursing license number belonging to someone else to work at the facilities.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office stated in a news release that Steele did not have the certifications, qualifications or training required to work as an RN. Among the communities where she worked were Cascades Verdae, a continuing care retirement community in Greenville; Brookdale Anderson, a CCRC in Anderson, and Easley Place, a senior living community in Easley. She also reportedly worked at four nursing homes. Prosecutors said that all of the providers are cooperating fully with investigators.
Steele faces seven felony counts of neglect of a vulnerable adult, each of which carries up to five years in prison; one count of felony financial identity fraud to obtain employment, which carries a fine and up to 10 years in prison; one felony count of obtaining signature or property under false pretenses, which carries a fine up to $500 and up to 10 years in prison; and five misdemeanor counts of unlicensed practice as an RN, which carry up to one year in prison and up to $50,000 in fines for each count.
“By holding herself out as having credentials she did not possess, Steele’s conduct resulted in a failure to provide adequate medical care and services to vulnerable adults and presented a substantial risk of causing physical or mental injuries to the residents under her care,” a release from Wilson’s office stated.
Steele was arrested by the South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Additional assistance on the case was provided by the Iva Police Department, Easley Police Department, Anderson Police Department and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department.
