Police: Man Posed as Fertility Doctor

There are plenty of stories about people using stolen identities to obtain medical care. The use of a stolen identity to provide medical care, however, is unusual to say the least.

And shocking, when one considers the details surrounding the arrest of 40-year-old Phoenix resident Jeffrey Graybill. According to the Associated Press, Graybill allegedly posed as a doctor running a West Los Angeles practice so that he could molest victims under the guise of giving physical examinations.  He reportedly used the identity of a San Francisco doctor in conjunction with his scheme.

Graybill, aka “Dr. Richardson,” reportedly recruited victims online, placing advertisements offering people up to $4,000 monthly for sperm donations to support stem cell research, according to Foxnews.com.

It’s unknown how many unsuspecting people fell prey to the alleged scheme, but authorities identified 24 possible victims in California and Arizona in addition to those confirmed in Los Angeles, according to Fox News. Graybill has some paramedic experience but no medical certification. He’s due to appear in court Oct. 16 and faces charges of sexual battery by fraud, identity theft, practicing medicine without certification, and other charges.

Unusual as this case may be, this isn’t the first time somebody’s been charged for impersonating a doctor.  Back in May, an Oregon man was charged with six counts of identity theft, recklessly endangering another person, third-degree sexual abuse, sexual harassment and other drug-related charges after he performed what ABC News described as “minor surgery and procedures on a living room couch.” He allegedly offered the services, as well as prescription drugs, for highly discounted rates.


While law enforcement does the job of investigating suspects in cases like these, consumers should remember all of the information they have at their disposal when it comes to checking up on professionals with whom they’ve never done business. Web sites for various associations, boards and regulatory agencies can be useful in obtaining background data about individuals, and local directories can help let you know whether someone’s telephone number and business location actually checks out.