A man accused of using a forged degree to pass himself off as a psychologist in Arizona is due to be sentenced after pleading guilty to charges related to the scam, according to reports by ABC15. Scott Keeling, who also used the last name Keeling-Torrez, admitted to fraudulent schemes and drug paraphernalia possession.
The man's sentencing comes after a revelation that his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles was counterfeit, a facade that included an assortment of vanity license plates boasting titles such as "DRPYSCH," which Keeling-Torrez had used to bolster his persona, a pattern of deceit that sustained his alleged years-long impersonation according to ABC15.
Employees from Keeling's various workplaces were shocked by the scheme—having known him as "Dr. Scott"—and plan to address the court during his sentencing.“We all called this man ‘Dr. Scott.’ We all believed this man to be who he said he was,”Meaghan Rohrbacher, a former employee, told ABC15. Others expressed a sense of betrayal, with Christina Hickson, another former employee, stating she "felt used and manipulated."
The case also impacted Matthew Garner, a man embroiled in a custody battle, who was harmed by an affidavit falsely attributed to a licensed psychologist, with the ramifications of such deceit potentially affecting the lives of involved children, Keeling's misrepresentation mightily complicating and lengthening the arduous legal process. "It harmed my case greatly; it's still going on today," Garner told the psychologist board, as relayed by ABC15.
Investigations by the Arizona Attorney General's Office confirmed that Keeling's educational documents were forged, UCLA indicated no record of Keeling-Torrez attending the institution. The Attorney General of Arizona, Kris Mayes, emphasized the rise of such imposter cases and her office's commitment to aggressive prosecution, "We will continue to prosecute these," Mayes stated in an interview with ABC15.
Though the sentencing is yet to be finalized, under the plea agreement, Keeling is expected to serve 90 days in jail and be placed on probation, as per specifics disclosed during last month's court proceedings.
