An ex-employee of Axia Women’s Health in Pennsylvania was indicted in a case of 39 counts for stealing patient data for personal profit. The Upper Moreland Police Department in Montgomery County, PA, discovered a sophisticated plan that involve stealing the identities of patients in order to get loans and credit cards, lease luxurious apartments, and get furniture worth several thousand dollars.
The investigation focused on Gwendolyn Murray of Philadelphia. Murray’s cellphone contained text messages with screenshots of patient records that were sent by Ashley Latimer, 34 years old, of Philadelphia. It was confirmed that Latimer send the messages while she was employed at AFC Urgent Care in South Philadelphia. Extra investigation showed that Latimer was employed at AFC Urgent Care from September 16, 2021 to December 26, 2021. She was terminated after being alleged of stealing from the cash drawer a total of $3,200.
Latimer then got hired at Axia Women’s Health as a medical assistant. She received access to patient files as part of her work responsibilities. While working at Axia Women’s Health, Latimer took photos of patient data that contains driver’s license numbers and other data. She sent the photos to Murray who makes fake customer accounts and gets credit using the victims’ names. Other fake accounts at Wayfair, Carvana, Bob’s Discount Furniture, and Mattress Queen were created using the stolen identities.
The police took Latimer’s cell phone and discovered 41GB of information including text messages with Murray. There were also photos of computer screens and paper records that contain the personal data of patients of Axia Women’s Health, the workplace of Latimer during the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2022. The detectives additionally retrieved photos of lease applications, Experian Credit Reports, and credit applications and approvals at Carvana and Wayfair utilizing the names of patients from Axia Women’s Health.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania reported that Latimer was detained on November 10, 2022 and indicted for her part in the scam. The data stolen by Latimer was employed to apply for credit cards and buy products worth over $31,000. Latimer is facing one count of forgery, 4 counts of computer theft, 7 counts of theft, and 27 counts of identity theft.
Latimer is charged with exploiting her position and breaking her trust and accountability as a medical specialist. That should not be. Individuals must not be allowed to endanger patients and breach their Commonwealth’s health care systems.