An 18-year-old man that officials say was posing as a medical doctor posted bail and walked out of the Palm Beach County Jail on Wednesday, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s deputies in West Palm Beach, Florida, arrested Malachi Love-Robinson on Tuesday afternoon and accused him of practicing medicine without a license. He was the head of his own practice, according to his website.
The sheriff’s narcotics unit, along with the Florida Department of Health, carried out an operation in which an undercover officer visited Love-Robinson’s office, according to a statement from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Love-Robinson physically examined the officer and provided medical advice, said the statement, which detailed a nearly two-week investigation that culminated in Tuesday’s arrest.
As police led Love-Robinson out of his office in handcuffs, he said, “I’m hurt because of the accusations and allegations, but like I said, this is not the first time where I’ve been accused and I will pursue this, and when I do, you guys will know,” according to CNN affiliate WPBF.
In a brief phone conversation with CNN, Love-Robinson said he would not grant any interviews but would present a statement outside his office Wednesday afternoon.
“I will have a legal representative there,” he said with no elaboration before hanging up.
The website for Love-Robinson’s practice lists the teen as its president, CEO and founder. It refers to Love-Robinson as “Dr.” and places acronyms after his name, including Ph.D. and HHPC, which is used for those involved in home health and personal care. Though there are exceptions, a Ph.D. is generally not a medical degree.
While Florida licenses medical doctors, it does not issue licenses for naturopathic doctors, or those who reject the use of medicines, Florida Department of Health spokesman Brad Dalton told CNN.
“When he crossed the line and started giving a physical and offering to treat the undercover agent, we were able to issue him a cease-and-desist for the unlicensed practice of medicine,” he said.
It’s not the first time Love-Robinson has run into trouble. After a tip to police, the Florida Department of Health filed a cease-and-desist notice in October for practicing medicine without a license, Dalton said.
Love-Robinson described himself as a “well rounded proffessional” (spelling his), according to his profile on HealthGrades.com, which has been removed since his arrest. The listing states that he is 25 years old.
“I utilize physiological, psychological, and mechanical methods, such as air, water, light, heat, earth (to treat patients),” the profile said.
HealthGrades says the information was supplied by or on behalf of the provider.
A Facebook event shows a January 16 “grand opening celebration” for the New Birth New Life Medical Center, which is at the same address where the arrest was made Tuesday.
New Birth New Life’s website indicates at least two other people worked at the office.