A former director of nursing pleaded guilty Thursday to lying to federal agents in South Carolina about providing false COVID-19 vaccination cards.
Tammy Hudson McDonald, who worked at a PruittHealth skilled nursing facility last summer, filled out cards for people she knew hadn’t received the vaccine, according to an investigation by the US Department of Health and Human Services, the FBI and law enforcement officials. South Carolina.
When authorities confronted McDonald after they were tipped off about the fake certificates last September, she told federal agents, contrary to evidence, that she had never given anyone a forged vaccination card, according to a news release. of the Department of Justice.
“The defendant created a direct risk to the people of South Carolina by creating false vaccine documents for others to use, and compounded this misdeed by lying to federal agents,” US Attorney Corey F. Ellis said in a statement. “As a registered nurse, she knew more and owed more to the community than she did.”
His attorney, Jim Griffin, told The Associated Press that McDonald agreed to cooperate and accepted responsibility for his conduct. Griffin said he provided the fake cards to relatives at a Father’s Day gathering and they have not been charged.
The 53-year-old woman from Columbia faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced on September 20.
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