A Columbus woman was arrested Thursday morning after law enforcement determined that she had been posing as a registered nurse at a number of assisted living facilities and home care-giving businesses in south-central Indiana.

Columbus Police Department (CPD) Spokesman Lt. Matt Harris says that in December 2015, CPD Detective Chris Couch received a tip involving the identity deception of a registered nurse who lived in northern Indiana. During the course of the investigation, Couch says he determined that 45-year-old Holly M. Whyde used the professional identity of another person to gain employment as a registered nurse. During the two month investigation Couch allegedly discovered that Whyde gained employment as a registered nurse over a four year period at several Indiana health care businesses, including two in Columbus. He notes that the investigation, which was assisted by the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, reveled that Whyde worked primarily in an administrative role. However, she had also allegedly provided some patient care. Authorities also allege that Whyde had also worked as a licensed practical nurse, however, they could not confirm that she had been licensed to do so.

Harris says that Whyde was taken into custody at approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday at a residence on Osage Court on Columbus’ west side. He says that the FBI and the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Health and Human Services assisted with the case. Whyde was later turned over to the U.S. Marshalls Office on the following charges:

Count 1: False statements relating to health care matters in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1035.

Count 2: Aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a).