A man from Arizona is currently under indictment, accused of parading as a licensed psychologist by means of a falsified UCLA degree. Scott Keeling-Torrez, 44, allegedly orchestrated a deception that spanned years, using bogus qualifications to mislead clients, employers, and the public. According to ABC15, he has entered a plea of not guilty to charges including fraudulent schemes, forgery, and drug possession.
The ruse of Keeling-Torrez was to ultimately unravel during a child custody case. It was there that the validity of his purported expertise came into question, leading to various investigations by state agencies. A search of his home by the Arizona Attorney General's Office unveiled a diploma and other academic records from UCLA, which turned out to be forged, along with vanity license plates that flaunted his fake credentials. The exposure of this charade has drawn the ire of victims, with several planning to advocate against leniency at his upcoming court appearance set for February 7, as "Meaghan Rohrbacher, who worked for Keeling-Torrez" has voiced to ABC15.
The affidavit that sparked the investigations positioned Keeling-Torrez as an authoritative figure, one which swayed the direction of a family's future. Reportedly, Keeling-Torrez proclaimed, "In my professional opinion great harm would be instilled in these children," should their father be reintroduced into their lives, as he claimed they were "happy and feel very safe" with their grandmother—a statement highlighted by Anne Ryman of KNXV-TV.
Yet the Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners was to swiftly issue a cease-and-desist order, stripping Keeling-Torrez's ability further to portray himself as a healthcare professional. This action came following a board member's assessment, as disclosed to ABC15, that Keeling-Torrez had ventured into diagnosing mental-health issues, a realm reserved for licensed professionals. The deceit extends to his employment background; most recently serving as the director of operations at Therapy Trust Behavioral Health in Phoenix until its abrupt closure.
Unfortunately, this case of fraudulent behavior in the medical field is but one example of a growing trend. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes warned in an exclusive ABC15 interview that instances of medical imposters are increasing and her office is determined to be "very aggressive on this because people are getting hurt in these cases." Meanwhile, ABC15 reporters Dave Biscobing and Anne Ryman are delving into how state officials have been managing these cases of medical impostors of late. Those with relevant information are urged to come forward and assist in the investigative efforts.
