Man Faces Charges on Fake Doctor Scam

A former Greenwich resident has been arrested on charges of impersonating a doctor and administering drugs and injections to an unsuspecting elderly Greenwich woman.

The woman became suspicious of the man who was acting as her physician after reading about his arrest on insurance fraud charges last year, according to Greenwich Police spokesman Lt. Kraig Gray.

John H. Plunkett Jr., 48, who gave an address of 912 Fifth Ave., New York City, surrendered Jan. 10 to Greenwich Police who obtained an arrest warrant charging him with criminal impersonation; use of the title 'doctor' impersonation; illegal manufacturing, distribution and sale of a prescription and first-degree reckless endangerment.

The case began in May 2011 when Plunkett "ingraciated himself with a local family and a 68-year-old woman with medical issues as well as problems with medical insurance coverage," Gray said. "He purported himself to be a doctor and became her caretaker. He scams from her with this false friendship ... he received all sorts of gifts including fresh-baked cookies ... breakfasts and lunches ..."

Gray said Plunkett told the woman "he was a surgeon but couldn't use his hands for that because he had the same illness" the woman did. Having access to the woman's medical history, insurance and Social Security information, Plunkett "prescribed a schedule of medicines and narcotics and injections," Gray said. Plunkett administered some of the injections, according to Gray.

The woman became suspicious and contacted police after reading of on insurance fraud charges. In that case — under the name of Johnathan H. Plunkett — he was charged with more than 85 counts of identity theft and forgery in connection with filing more than $50,000 in fake medical claims. That case remains in the pre-trial stage and Plunkett is scheduled to appear Jan. 19 in state Superior Court in Stamford, according to court records.

Plunkett also was arrested and assault of another elderly woman. Disposition of that case could not be immediately determined.

Plunkett was released after posting $1,000 bond on the latest charges and scheduled to appear Jan. 19 in state Superior Court in Stamford.