Woman arrested for medical identity theft

PHOENIX – A suspect accused of posing as another woman and fraudulently billing more than $400,000 in medical expenses was arrested Saturday, authorities said.

According to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, 47-year-old Shannon Smith is accused of obtaining medical care using another person’s information and billing the victim.

Smith told police after her arrest on Saturday that there had been other incidents in which medical care had been sought under the victim’s name. Smith had warrants out for similar crimes in two other states.

She was booked into the MCSO Reception, Transfer, and Release Facility on the following charges:

• Three cases of identity theft.
• Three counts of criminal impersonation by false identity.
• Fraudulent activities are counted.
• A theft detection service without payment.
• One count of fugitive from justice.
• One count of fugitive from justice (via the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho)

The investigation against Smith is ongoing.

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