Woman used stolen medical license to perform physicals on truck drivers

Pennsylvania State Police are seeking the public’s help locating victims of a woman who used stolen medical credentials to perform illegal physicals on truck drivers.
 

Police arrested Joann Elizabeth Wingate following an investigation prompted by a truck driver who responded to an advertisement she posted at a truck wash offering physicals. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires physicals for all commercial drivers’ licenses.

According to police, after the driver called the number on the advertisement, Wingate picked him up and drove him back to her home, where she conducted the physical for $65. She then faxed forms to the California DOT. However, the driver later received word from the DOT that the forms were outdated and contained wrong information. After receiving a refund from Wingate, the driver contacted the police.

The police investigation revealed that the license number Wingate used on the forms belonged to a psychiatrist in Philadelphia with the same last name. Wingate also had two chiropractic licenses that were suspended due to advertising violations for performing physicals.
 

Wingate faces charges of felony forgery, identity theft, deceptive business practices, misdemeanor theft by deception, impersonating a notary public or a holder of a professional or occupational license, and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
 

Police have identified 16 victims and suspect that there are many more since Wingate ran the scam for several years. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Wingate is asked to contact the police.