New Arrest for Teen Accused of Impersonating Doctor

A Florida teenager who was arrested last month for posing as a physician is back in jail after a new arrest Tuesday night.

Malachi Love-Robinson, 18, is facing new charges of fraud and larceny. The fraud charges stem from using another person’s identification without permission. Those new charges are in addition to charges filed last month pertaining to accusations he practiced medicine without a license.

According to a report by News 4 Jacksonville, the February arrest came after Love-Robinson examined an undercover law enforcement officer, performed a physical examination, and offered medical advice, all while wearing a white coat and stethoscope. He was operating under the business name “New Birth New Life Medical Center and Urgent Care.”

The website for the “clinic” describes Love-Robinson as a “well-rounded professional,” and the “About Us” page describes the practice as having a “naturopathic physician” with board certifications. However, in an interview with Good Morning America last month, Love-Robinson claimed he never described himself as an MD, and argued that using the prefix “Doctor” doesn’t necessarily imply having a medical degree.

“I am not portraying as an MD. I’ve never said that I’ve gone to school as an MD,” he told ABC.

The news report included footage of a reporter examining the sign outside his clinic door and finding that the words “MD” after Love-Robinson’s name had been covered by a piece of white paper or tape.

Instead of earning a medical degree, Love-Robinson said he learned to treat patients in other ways, such as by shadowing physicians.

“I have been studying this particular field for a while,” he said in the interview. “(It) may not have been eight years, nine years, 10 years but it has been long enough to, I would say, justify what I do.”

He also said he has a PhD, but declined to say in which field he earned the degree.

The clinic website describes his expertise this way:

“Dr Love-Robinson utilizes physiological, psychological, and mechanical methods, such as air, water, light, heat, earth, phototherapy, food and herb therapy, psychotherapy, electrotherapy, physiotherapy, mechanotherapy, naturopathic corrections and manipulation, and natural methods or modalities, together with natural medicines, natural processed foods, and herbs and nature’s remedies.”

Among the charges, prosecutors allege Love-Robinson treated an elderly woman for severe stomach pain, charging her nearly $3,500. Love-Robinson denies that he took money from the patient. The latest charges reportedly stem from cashing checks stolen from a patient, according to a report in the Sun Sentinel.

Love-Robinson was allowed to go home on supervised release following his arraignment on Wednesday, the Sun Sentinel said, but he was also ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.

Image: Screenshot of ABC interview.This story has been updated to include details from the arraignment hearing.