A San Luis Obispo County resident has admitted to charges involving the misuse of doctors' credentials to create fraudulent medical documents for immigration purposes. Chantelle Lavergne Woods, aged 54 and from Nipomo, entered a guilty plea to one count of presenting false immigration documents and one count of possession with intent to distribute phendimetrazine. She is currently free on a $10,000 bond.
Woods managed a clinic in Arroyo Grande known at times as "Medical Weight Loss and Immigration Services." Her plea agreement reveals that starting in February 2021, she misused the identities of three physicians to produce fraudulent medical examination documents for individuals seeking lawful permanent residency or adjustments in their immigration status.
According to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), applicants must submit medical examinations conducted by licensed physicians. These examinations assess various health factors relevant to admissibility into the United States. Federal law mandates that these forms be completed accurately by licensed professionals. However, Woods fabricated at least 328 forms with forged physician signatures, falsely indicating legitimate medical evaluations.
The clinic operated without proper physician oversight or authorization, failing to provide genuine medical services during this period. From February 2021 until June 2022, Woods also used a deceased doctor's DEA registration number to order over 150,000 tablets of controlled substances like testosterone and codeine.
In July 2022, authorities found Woods in possession of phendimetrazine intended for distribution along with a loaded firearm at her clinic.
United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin has set her sentencing hearing for July 31st, where she could face up to ten years in federal prison for each charge.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Ventura Resident Office Tactical Diversion Squad and USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy K. Beecher from the Transnational Organized Crime Section.