Fake doctor arrested for running Niles medical practice

NILES, Mich. --  He was trusted to take care of the sick, but authorities say he is a fraud.

His patients depended on him, but officials say 43-year-old Charles Mosimbwa of Berrien Springs is a phony. On Thursday Mosimbwa was arrested by special agents with the Attorney General’s office.

“Practicing medicine without the required training and expertise recklessly endangers the welfare of patients,” says Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette.  “Whenever credible evidence arises to suggest criminals are undermining the quality of our health care, we will move swiftly to take action.”

Mosimbwa faces 21 criminal charges after investigators discovered he had turned in forged documents to the state of Michigan so he could get a valid license to practice medicine in Berrien County. Investigators say Mosimbwa was practicing medicine out of his Berrien Springs apartment and then moved to an office space in Niles.

"I’m shocked, I’m shocked and nervous, very nervous," says one patient.

Mary, who lives in Niles, was suffering from a stomach ulcer and says she couldn't get in to see her regular doctor. So, after seeing an ad in the local newspaper, she decided to make an appointment with Mosimbwa.   

"When he drew the picture of my stomach and what goes on and everything then I thought, wow he really knows what he is doing," says Mary.

Mary says nothing seemed out of place other than the state of Mosimbwa's office, which had hardly any furniture in it at all. “One desk, a couple folding chairs, no receptionist and the telephone wire was run across the floor," says Mary.

Mary says she gave Mosimbwa the benefit of the doubt, believing him when he told her he was just starting up the business and had recently moved into the space. 

Little did she know that the Attorney General’s office, as well as both the Niles Police Department and Michigan State Police, had all been conducting separate investigations into Mosimbwa’s medical practice.

When ABC 57 News visited the office, a man contracted to work on the space was there. The man was shocked by the news of Mosimbwa’s arrest, saying he had no idea Mosimbwa wasn’t really a doctor.

Mosimbwa has been charged with one count of Racketeering, a felony with a maximum of 20 years in prison. Mosimbwa was also charged with two counts of Uttering and Publishing and one count of forgery, both felonies with a maximum of 14 years in prison.

In addition, Mosimbwa was charged with another felony count for operating an unauthorized practice, along with 16 counts of medicaid fraud -- each charge carrying a maximum sentence of four years.

Mosimbwa was arraigned in East Lansing on Friday, where his bond was set at $750,000. Mosimbwa is due back in court for a preliminary examination on March 23rd.

Schuette encourages patients of Mosimbwa, who wish to report concerns, to call the Attorney General’s Health Care Fraud Division at 1-800-242-2873.