DELAND, Fla. – A Lake Mary man showed up to a job interview in DeLand on Monday and was quickly put into handcuffs after an undercover operation by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph Thomas Kinney, 55, was arrested for impersonating a registered nurse by using another person’s nursing license and personal information to apply for nursing jobs, deputies said.
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According to an arrest affidavit, the investigation began in August when a hiring manager at Ridgecrest Health and Rehab Center in DeLand reported that an individual was applying for nursing positions using fraudulent credentials.
[VIDEO: Florida man impersonating nurse arrested during job interview, deputies said]
Deputies said the manager previously encountered the suspect in October 2024 at Indigo Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation in Daytona Beach. The man appeared nervous and presented suspicious documents, including a driver’s license with inconsistent details, the arrest affidavit states.
Further research uncovered that the real licensed nurse Kinney was impersonating was someone he lived with at his Lake Mary residence, deputies said.
The investigation also revealed Kinney previously held nursing licenses in Alabama, California, and Florida. His record includes discipline for repeated incidents such as diverting drugs from his employer, driving under the influence of drugs, providing false information and unprofessional conduct.
Deputies believe Kinney applied for 10 to 15 nursing jobs using the same fraudulent ID and nursing license. He was hired for two positions in Seminole and Orange counties but worked at each for less than a week.
On Monday, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office shared body cam video of Kinney’s arrest shortly after arriving to his interview.
At last check, Kinney was being held at the Volusia County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
Kinney faces two felony counts of practicing health care without a license. Florida law prohibits even attempting or offering to practice a health care profession without a valid license.