WEEKEND FORECAST. BUT FIRST, BACK TO DOUG AND DARLENE. NEW MEXICO’S ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CHARGING A WOMAN FOR FALSIFYING HER CREDENTIALS AS A NURSE, PROVIDING CARE TO PATIENTS, AND STEALING THE IDENTITIES OF NURSES. ALIYAH CHAVEZ HEARD FROM THE WOMAN’S FORMER EMPLOYERS AND LEARNED WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE IS NOW ASKING FOR. SHE JOINS US NOW IN STUDIO. YEAH, THAT SUSPECT IS CHARGED WITH A SLEW OF CRIMES, INCLUDING NURSING WITHOUT A LICENSE, ABUSE OF A RESIDENT, AND FRAUD. SHE’S BEING ACCUSED OF STEALING THE IDENTITIES OF NURSES FROM TEXAS, CALIFORNIA AND KANSAS. IT WAS A WELL THOUGHT OUT THEFT OF IDENTITY THAT WAS DIFFICULT TO CATCH. 26 YEAR OLD APRIL GUADALUPE HERNANDEZ, A CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT, CHARGED WITH 19 COUNTS OF MISCONDUCT BY THE NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL. APRIL HERNANDEZ A VERY COMMON NAME EMPLOYED BY THREE DIFFERENT HOSPICE CENTERS OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR, USING THE NAMES GUADALUPE, HERNANDEZ AND APRIL VASQUEZ HERNANDEZ. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, IN AUGUST 2024, SHE WORKED AT LUNA DEL VALLE HOSPICE, CLAIMING TO BE A LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE FROM KANSAS. THAT’S A HIGHER NURSING DEGREE THAN WHAT SHE HAD. FOUR MONTHS LATER, RESIGNING AFTER A ROUTINE CHECK OF HER LICENSE, HER FORMER EMPLOYER TOLD KOAT IN APRIL 2025, SHE WORKED AT LILLIE CARE OF NEW MEXICO, LEAVING THE COMPANY TWO MONTHS LATER. THEN, MOST RECENTLY IN JUNE OF THIS YEAR, HERNANDEZ WORKED AT HOSPICE DE LA LUZ FOR JUST 27 DAYS BEFORE SUPERVISORS FOUND HER NURSING DOCUMENTS WERE FAKE. ACCORDING TO HER FORMER EMPLOYER. I THINK IT’S VERY BELIEVABLE TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I JUST DIDN’T USE MY MIDDLE NAME FOR THAT PARTICULAR APPLICATION, AND THAT’S WHY IT DOESN’T MATCH UP. ON ONE OF THE JOBS, TORRES SAYS HERNANDEZ MISTRANSCRIBED A DEADLY DOSE OF MORPHINE. THANKFULLY, THE MISTAKE WAS CAUGHT BEFORE ANY OF THAT MEDICATION WAS ADMINISTERED. A REGISTERED NURSE CATCHING THE MISTAKE. THEY’RE THE ONES WHO REALIZE THAT, WOW, WE CANNOT GIVE THIS PATIENT THAT MUCH MORPHINE, OTHERWISE THEY WILL DIE. HERNANDEZ HAS A SCHEDULED ARRAIGNMENT FOR SEPTEMBER 8TH. REPORTING. I’M ALIYAH CHAVEZ KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. ALICIA. THANK YOU. AND WE TRIED TO REACH EDEN ON THIS THROUGH HER PUBLIC DEFENDER, BUT DID NOT IMMEDIATELY HEAR BACK. SHE FACES U
New Mexico woman charged with identity theft and nursing fraud
A New Mexico woman faces multiple charges for allegedly falsifying nursing credentials and stealing identities from nurses across several states.
New Mexico’s attorney general has charged April Guadalupe Hernandez with multiple crimes, including nursing without a license, abuse of a resident, and fraud, for allegedly stealing the identities of nurses from Texas, California, and Kansas.”It was a well-thought-out theft of identity that was difficult to catch,” Joseph Martinez, the Deputy Director of the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau at the New Mexico Department of Justice, told KOAT on Thursday. Hernandez, a 26-year-old certified nurse assistant, was charged Thursday with 19 counts of misconduct. She was employed by three different hospice centers over the course of a year, using the names Guadalupe Hernandez and April Vasquez-Hernandez, according to court documents. In August 2024, she worked at Luna Del Valle Hospice, claiming to be a licensed practical nurse (LPN) from Kansas, the company told KOAT. Obtaining the certifications to be an LPN is a higher certification than what Hernandez possessed. She resigned four months later after a routine check of her license, Luna Del Valle Hospice said. Luna Del Valle Hospice sent KOAT the following statement: Luna Del Valle Healthcare Services takes the charges filed against former employee April Guadalupe Hernandez extremely seriously. Patient safety and regulatory compliance are our highest priorities, and we are deeply concerned by these allegations. In August 2024, April Hernandez was employed by Luna Del Valle Hospice as an LPN. The nursing license she provided was verified through the online nursing license verification portal as being active in the compact state of Kansas which allowed employment in NM, as well. In December 2024, during a routine licensing check, there were concerns that April had not converted her license to a NM license and there was activity on the online license report that was suspicious. At that time, an internal investigation was initiated, we were told it was a misunderstanding and that proper documentation would be provided. April was removed from all patient care immediately pending receipt of appropriate documentation. The appropriate documentation and behavior became increasingly suspicious over the following days, including abruptly resigning from her position rather than providing the required documentation. A report was made to the Board of Nursing at that time. All investigations, to include a passing formal survey of our business practices by the Department of Health have been fully complied with. At Luna Del Valle Hospice, we take compliance with all regulatory standards and regulations very seriously, and pride ourselves with strict compliance of CMS Conditions of Participation and New Mexico State Regulations. While we cannot comment on the specific legal proceedings, we are committed to transparency with our patients and families. We have reviewed and enhanced our license verification procedures to ensure this type of situation cannot occur again and take pride in completing a successful survey with the Department of Health which reinforced our regulatory compliance. Families considering our services can be confident that Luna Del Valle Healthcare Services maintains the highest standards of care, regulatory compliance, and patient safety. We encourage anyone with questions about our services or quality measures to contact our office directly. We remain fully committed to providing compassionate, professional hospice care while maintaining the trust families place in us during their most difficult times. We are committed to reporting any and all suspicious behavior, as had we not reported our concerns, there is no way to know how long this fraudulent behavior would have continued and how many patients would have been impacted.In April 2025, Hernandez worked at Lily Care of New Mexico, leaving the company two months later, according to court documents. In June 2025, Hernandez worked at Hospice De La Luz for just 27 days before supervisors discovered her nursing documents were fake, according to her former employer.Hospice de la Luz statement sent KOAT this statement: Hospice de la Luz has been serving the Albuquerque community for over 20 years with an exceptional record of compassionate, professional care. Our company followed all state and federal protocols to verify this individual’s credentials, but unfortunately the identification documents provided were fraudulent. The moment we uncovered the deception, we immediately removed her from duty and reported the matter to state regulators and law enforcement. She worked only a few days, always under supervision as she was still in her introductory period, and at no time was patient safety at risk.To the families we serve, I want to be clear: you can have confidence that your loved ones are safe in our care. Our patients are always supported by licensed, credentialed professionals, and we maintain multiple layers of oversight to protect them. We remain committed to the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and patient safety.The Attorney General’s office has a scheduled arraignment for Hernandez on Sept. 8.KOAT attempted to reach Hernandez on Thursday through her public defender. If convicted, she faces up to 27 and a half years in jail.
New Mexico’s attorney general has charged April Guadalupe Hernandez with multiple crimes, including nursing without a license, abuse of a resident, and fraud, for allegedly stealing the identities of nurses from Texas, California, and Kansas.
“It was a well-thought-out theft of identity that was difficult to catch,” Joseph Martinez, the Deputy Director of the Medicaid Fraud and Elder Abuse Bureau at the New Mexico Department of Justice, told KOAT on Thursday.
Hernandez, a 26-year-old certified nurse assistant, was charged Thursday with 19 counts of misconduct.
She was employed by three different hospice centers over the course of a year, using the names Guadalupe Hernandez and April Vasquez-Hernandez, according to court documents.
In August 2024, she worked at Luna Del Valle Hospice, claiming to be a licensed practical nurse (LPN) from Kansas, the company told KOAT. Obtaining the certifications to be an LPN is a higher certification than what Hernandez possessed. She resigned four months later after a routine check of her license, Luna Del Valle Hospice said.
Luna Del Valle Hospice sent KOAT the following statement:
Luna Del Valle Healthcare Services takes the charges filed against former employee April Guadalupe Hernandez extremely seriously. Patient safety and regulatory compliance are our highest priorities, and we are deeply concerned by these allegations.
In August 2024, April Hernandez was employed by Luna Del Valle Hospice as an LPN. The nursing license she provided was verified through the online nursing license verification portal as being active in the compact state of Kansas which allowed employment in NM, as well. In December 2024, during a routine licensing check, there were concerns that April had not converted her license to a NM license and there was activity on the online license report that was suspicious. At that time, an internal investigation was initiated, we were told it was a misunderstanding and that proper documentation would be provided. April was removed from all patient care immediately pending receipt of appropriate documentation. The appropriate documentation and behavior became increasingly suspicious over the following days, including abruptly resigning from her position rather than providing the required documentation. A report was made to the Board of Nursing at that time. All investigations, to include a passing formal survey of our business practices by the Department of Health have been fully complied with.
At Luna Del Valle Hospice, we take compliance with all regulatory standards and regulations very seriously, and pride ourselves with strict compliance of CMS Conditions of Participation and New Mexico State Regulations.
While we cannot comment on the specific legal proceedings, we are committed to transparency with our patients and families. We have reviewed and enhanced our license verification procedures to ensure this type of situation cannot occur again and take pride in completing a successful survey with the Department of Health which reinforced our regulatory compliance.
Families considering our services can be confident that Luna Del Valle Healthcare Services maintains the highest standards of care, regulatory compliance, and patient safety. We encourage anyone with questions about our services or quality measures to contact our office directly. We remain fully committed to providing compassionate, professional hospice care while maintaining the trust families place in us during their most difficult times.
We are committed to reporting any and all suspicious behavior, as had we not reported our concerns, there is no way to know how long this fraudulent behavior would have continued and how many patients would have been impacted.
In April 2025, Hernandez worked at Lily Care of New Mexico, leaving the company two months later, according to court documents.
In June 2025, Hernandez worked at Hospice De La Luz for just 27 days before supervisors discovered her nursing documents were fake, according to her former employer.
Hospice de la Luz statement sent KOAT this statement:
Hospice de la Luz has been serving the Albuquerque community for over 20 years with an exceptional record of compassionate, professional care. Our company followed all state and federal protocols to verify this individual’s credentials, but unfortunately the identification documents provided were fraudulent. The moment we uncovered the deception, we immediately removed her from duty and reported the matter to state regulators and law enforcement. She worked only a few days, always under supervision as she was still in her introductory period, and at no time was patient safety at risk.
To the families we serve, I want to be clear: you can have confidence that your loved ones are safe in our care. Our patients are always supported by licensed, credentialed professionals, and we maintain multiple layers of oversight to protect them. We remain committed to the highest standards of compliance, transparency, and patient safety.
The Attorney General’s office has a scheduled arraignment for Hernandez on Sept. 8.
KOAT attempted to reach Hernandez on Thursday through her public defender.
If convicted, she faces up to 27 and a half years in jail.
