AG charges Las Cruces ‘imposter nurse’ accused of endangering patients, using stolen identities
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced 34 charges against a Las Cruces-area woman accused of posing as a nurse, using stolen identities and endangering patients.
Prosecutors allege Margarita Gonzalez worked at four local healthcare facilities without a nursing license, nearly administered a fatal insulin dose and distributed narcotics to juvenile patients.
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced charges this week against a Las Cruces-area woman accused of posing as a licensed nurse while working at multiple healthcare facilities and allegedly endangering patients.
A Doña Ana County grand jury indicted Margarita Gonzalez on 34 counts, including identity theft, fraud, nursing without a license, abuse of a resident, falsification of documents and distribution of controlled substances to minors.
According to the New Mexico Department of Justice, investigators allege Gonzalez used the identities of licensed nurses in Texas to obtain employment at four Las Cruces-area facilities despite not possessing a nursing license or credentials.
The indictment alleges Gonzalez worked at Village at Northrise Desert Willow, Las Cruces Wellness and Rehabilitation, Peak Behavioral Health and Matrix Home Care.
State investigators allege Gonzalez illegally administered injections and dispensed prescribed medications while working at the facilities. Prosecutors also allege she distributed narcotics to eight juvenile inpatient residents at Peak Behavioral Health.
According to the attorney general’s office, investigators uncovered an incident in which Gonzalez allegedly nearly administered an incorrect insulin dose that could have caused serious injury or death. Officials said another nurse intervened before the medication was given.
“Impersonating a healthcare provider is a reckless and selfish crime that subjects those most vulnerable to risk of serious injury or death,” Torrez said in a statement.
Court records show Gonzalez was charged with four counts of theft of identity, two fraud counts, one Medicaid fraud count, two counts of falsification of documents, 11 counts of abuse of a resident without great bodily harm, six counts of nursing without a license and eight counts of distribution of controlled substances to a minor.
The indictment alleges the conduct occurred between June 2024 and October 2025 and involved the fraudulent use of identifying information belonging to multiple Texas nurses.
The attorney general’s office said Gonzalez was terminated from several facilities after concerns arose regarding patient safety and her apparent lack of medical knowledge during patient care.
If convicted on all counts, Gonzalez could face up to 100 years in prison, according to the attorney general’s office.
Court records show the case has been assigned to District Judge Conrad Perea.
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