Everyone’s favorite teenage fake doctor avoided going to trial, reaching a plea agreement for a collection of cases based on allegations including defrauding the elderly running a medical clinic despite not being a doctor. Malachi Love-Robinson–nicknamed “Dr. Love”–was set to stand trial later this month, but he pleaded guilty on Thursday to charges including fraud, grand theft, and practicing medicine without a license. Now 20, Love-Robinson received a sentence of 42 months in prison.
Prosecutors dropped other charges as part of the deal, such as forgery and practicing naturopathy without a license.
Dr. Love’s most famous case is from about two years ago, when he was said to have been practicing medicine at the New Birth, New Life Alternative Medicine and Urgent Care Clinic, which prosecutors said he ran. One of his patients turned out to be an undercover officer, and he was arrested after giving the cop a physical examination and medical advice, police said. Dr. Love claimed he had the necessary licenses.
Authorities also said he tried to use an elderly woman’s credit to buy a Jaguar, and stealing $43,000 from an addiction treatment center.
His exploits allegedly go back at least to when he was 16, when he would go to high schools claiming to be a doctor looking for a position on the schools’ medical staffs, according to a police report.
Love-Robinson has already served a year behind bars, which will count towards his sentence. When he finally gets out, he’ll have two years to pay court costs. He also has to pay restitution to his victims.
Dr. Love’s grandmother, Rebecca McKenzi, told local WPTV, “what he was trying to do, he was trying to do for the better good, and not harm anybody.”
[Image via WPTV screengrab]
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