Crime & Safety

Man Accused of Posing as Physician Faces More Charges

The Georgia man was returned to Lexington County Tuesday and charged with three additional counts of practicing medicine without a license, according to the sheriff's department.

is back in Lexington County and is facing more charges. 

Investigators transported Ernest Osei Addo, 48, to the Lexington County Detention Center Tuesday, according to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. He was being held at the Cobb County Detention center in Georgia since last week when he was arrested.

Deputies say Addo unlawfully practiced medicine between February and August at five Agape Senior facilities in the Midlands, providing medical services to more than 500 seniors. 

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Addo is charged with three counts of praticing medicine without a medical license and one count of financial identity fraud, according to the sheriff's department. Deputies previously charged Addo with one count of practicing medicine without a medical license and one count of obtaining items worth more than $10,000 under false pretenses. 

The last charge is for unlawfully receiving wages from Agape Senior, Sheriff James R. Metts said.

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The investigation started when an Orangeburg doctor, who is a friend of Addo's, claimed that Addo stole his identity and used his credit cards, according to the sheriff's department. Addo used the licensed physician's identity to get a job with Agape Senior Primary Care, deputies say.

Addo provided medical services to patients in West Columbia, Lexington, Irmo and Columbia, according to the sheriff's department.

He will appear in court at 3 p.m. Wednesday for a bond hearing at the J.

The Columbia and Greenwood police departments are investigating allegations that Addo practiced medicine without a license at medical facilities in those cities, according to the sheriff's department.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is also investigating allegations that Addo improperly prescribed controlled substances to patients.


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