Florida Teen Arrested After Allegedly Posing as a Doctor
Malachi Love-Robinson, 18, is accused of passing himself off as a physician.
— -- A Florida teenager who police say called himself “Dr. Love” is accused of practicing medicine without a license.
Police arrested 18-year-old Malachi Love-Robinson Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Florida, after conducting an undercover operation at the medical office allegedly used by the teen.
Authorities say Love-Robinson fooled his victims with an elaborate website and bio where he called himself a “well-rounded professional” who uses psychotherapy, electrotherapy and other techniques to treat patients.
An undercover sheriff’s office agent posing Tuesday as a patient said Love-Robinson gave her a medical exam and offered her medical advice, according to ABC affiliate WPBF 25 News.
The teenager was arrested immediately and taken into custody, WPBF 25 News reported.
WPBF 25 News began investigating Love-Robinson in January after receiving a tip that a then-unidentified teenager who was caught in a pregnant woman’s exam room last year at a local medical center was allegedly opening his own medical clinic.
Love-Robinson told WPBF 25 News in January that he was the teenager but denied pretending to be a doctor.
“No, ma’am. I requested to shadow physicians -- next thing I know, cops are there, that’s all I know, all I know, I have no idea,” Love-Robinson told WPBF 25 News last month.
In that incident, the clinic, St. Mary's Medical Center, denied a teenager had come into contact with patients and declined to press charges. The police determined no crime had been committed.
Love-Robinson said Tuesday, while being taken away in handcuffs, that he “will pursue” the charges.
The teen is charged with two counts of practicing medicine without a license, one count of grand theft larceny and four counts of fraud. He was also ordered by the Dept. of Health to cease and desist practicing medicine without a license.
“I’m hurt because of all of these allegations,” Love-Robinson told WPBF 25 News on Tuesday. "But this is not the first time I have been accused and I will pursue this, and when I do, you will be the first to know.”
Love-Robinson was released from jail early this morning on $21,000 bail. The teen claims to have an attorney but has not given ABC News the attorney's name.