Published in the October 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Juan Manuel Perez
a.k.a. n/a

The unauthorized vocational nursing practice by Juan Manuel Perez in Harlingen, Texas, was originally published in the July 2016 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin.  On November 3, 2016, Juan Manuel Perez pled guilty to Aggravated Identity Theft for having secured employment in December 2014 with a home health agency in McAllen, Texas, by providing the employer with a license belonging to a different individual of the same name, and, for approximately 19 months, through July 11, 2016, having provided care to numerous homebound beneficiaries wherein Juan Manuel Perez completed, dated, and signed Medicare-required documentation using the misappropriated LVN license.  On January 31, 2017, Juan Manuel Perez was sentenced to serve 24 months in the custody of the United States Bureau of Prisons to be followed by one year of supervised release.

Published in the July 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Karen Zajic
a.k.a. Karen Tims; a.k.a. Karen Zajic-Tims

On or about June 2015 through September 2016, Karen Zajic, also known as Karen Tims and Karen Zajic-Tims, gained employment as an in-home private duty nurse in the Dallas area. She practiced vocational nursing after her license to practice in the State of Texas had been revoked by the Board on May 13, 2014.   In January 2017, the Board directed Ms. Zajic to cease and desist from the unauthorized practice of vocational nursing without a valid license.

Published in the April 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Desireee Casey
a.k.a. n/a

During the month of July 2016, Desiree Casey represented herself as a school nurse at a school in McLennan County, Texas, without having a license to practice professional or vocational nursing in the State of Texas. The case was referred to the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office.

Published in the April 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Blanca Matta
a.k.a. n/a

On June 15, 2016, Blanca Mata was indicted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, for health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The indictment alleged that, between January 2010 and April 2015, Blanca Mata was an employee of a medical house call service in the Dallas area, and portrayed herself as a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or physician to patients of the medical house call service. Blanca Mata is not licensed to practice professional or advanced practice registered nursing in the State of Texas.

Published in the April 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Roseline Oluchi Okoro
a.k.a. n/a

Roseline Oluchi Okoro secured employment and practiced as a registered nurse (RN) with a mental health outpatient facility in Houston, Texas, between November 30, 2016 and December 20, 2016, by using an invalid license. Ms. Okoro listed her nursing license as being in current status when hired, but failed to inform the clinical director that she surrendered her nursing license on May 5, 2016. This case has been referred to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Published in the April 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Dinah Shaw
a.k.a. n/a

During the month of July 2016, Dinah Shaw represented herself as a school nurse and used the title “Nurse Shaw” at a school in McLennan County, Texas, without having a license to practice professional or vocational nursing in the State of Texas. The case was referred to the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office.

Published in the April 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Minerva Valdez
a.k.a. Minerva Y. Gonzalez

In May 2016 through October 2016, Minerva Valdez secured employment as a registered nurse (RN) with several different hospice and home health agencies and health clinics in the McAllen, Edinburg, Edcouch, and Pharr areas. Ms. Valdez is not licensed to practice professional nursing in the State of Texas. She used the name and RN license number belonging to a licensee with a similar name but a different social security number. This case has been referred to the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office.

Published in the January 2017 Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Monica Lashay Barnett
a.k.a. n/a

Monica Lashay Barnett practiced vocational nursing in the Houston area at a skilled nursing facility between December 2, 2015 and August 17, 2016 after her graduate vocational nurse permit expired. She did not obtain a license to practice vocational nursing.  The case was referred to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Published in the January 2017Texas Board of Nursing Bulletin

Between July 20, 2015 and June 2, 2016, Ramon Humberto Ortiz misrepresented himself as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN), used the title graduate vocational nurse (GVN) or LVN, and obtained employment in the San Antonio, Texas area at an assisted living facility.  He did not have a GVN permit or license to practice vocational nursing.  The case was referred to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.