A Nipomo woman is facing federal charges for allegedly concocting hundreds of false medical documents designed to aid immigration applicants. Chantelle Lavergne Woods, 54, is accused of using a forged medical clinic to generate fraudulent medical examination and vaccination records, a crucial part of the green card application process. The Justice Department announced her arrest and the allegations against her today.
Woods' scheme, detailed in an affidavit dated February 18, purportedly involved running an Arroyo Grande medical clinic between February 2021 and April 2024. The document accuses Woods of the unlawful act of creating hundreds of fake documents for individuals seeking to adjust their legal status or apply for a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) card, also known as a green card. She was charged with fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents—a felony that potentially carries a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison.
During her initial court appearance, she was released on a $10,000 bond, with her arraignment scheduled for March 25. Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally sternly addressed the incident, "The fraudulent conduct described in the criminal complaint undermined the integrity of our nation’s immigration system," as obtained by the Justice Department's publication. Federal law dictates that licensed physicians or "civil surgeons" must conduct the medical exams associated with these immigration processes, a requirement Woods is alleged to have bypassed.
Further allegations include a website promotion for her "Medical Weight Loss and Immigration Services" clinic, which falsely advertised assistance with immigration physicals and inaccurately listed a pediatrician as an "M.D. Board Certified Neurologist and Designated Civil Surgeon for USCIS." The Justice Department's report also states that Woods is accused of having forged signatures, even using the identity of a physician that had already passed away.
The case is being probed by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Ventura Resident Office Tactical Diversion Squad along with USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security. Assistant United States Attorneys Elia Herrera and Mark Aveis lead the case prosecution. While charges have been filed, it is important to note that Woods, like all defendants, maintains the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.
