Star staff report

A Berrien Springs man running a medical office in downtown Niles has been arrested for allegedly practicing medicine without a valid license.

Charles A. Mosimbwa, 43, faces 21 criminal charges after an investigation revealed he allegedly falsified his credentials to become licensed as a medical professional.

He was arrested March 8 by special agents with the Michigan Department of the Attorney General.

Mosimbwa is accused of submitting forged documents to the State of Michigan to obtain two Michigan licenses to practice medicine, one as a medical doctor and one as a registered nurse. Before opening his office at 16 E. Main Street in Niles, he allegedly practiced medicine from an apartment in Berrien Springs.

The following charges against Mosimbwa have been filed by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette:

•    One count of Conducting Criminal Enterprises (Racketeering), a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine;
•    Two counts of Uttering and Publishing, a felony publishable by up to 14 years in prison;
•    One count of Forgery, a felony publishable by up to 14 years in prison;
•    16 counts of Medicaid Fraud – False Claim, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a $50,000 fine; and
•    One count of Health Profession – Unauthorized Practice, a felony punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine
Mosimbwa was arraigned Friday in East Lansing’s 54B District Court by Judge Richard Ball. Bond was set at $750,000. Mosimbwa is due back in court March 23 for a preliminary exam.

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

The Niles Police Department and Michigan State Police have been conducting a simultaneous, but independent, investigation of Mosimbwa. The investigation is ongoing.

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.