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Nurse Who Stole Dead Man's Credit Card Gets 30 Days
Duane Bourne / The Virginian-Pilot
September 18, 2008
Matthew Wiseman, a registered nurse who pilfered a dead patient’s credit card, was ordered to serve a month in jail on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old man, who pleaded guilty to credit card theft and credit card fraud, used the card of Michael Puopolo in March to buy a laptop computer hours after the 75-year-old man was pronounced dead at Sentara Bayside Hospital. On Wednesday, Circuit Judge A. Joseph Canada Jr. found Wiseman guilty of the two felonies and sentenced him to eight years in prison with all but 30 days suspended.
Wiseman was working in the emergency room when Puopolo was transported to the hospital. Puopolo was found slumped over in his car in the parking lot of a BJ’s Wholesale Club store, and was later pronounced dead of a heart attack.
Six hours after Puopolo died, Wiseman was captured on surveillance footage at a Best Buy store wearing his hospital scrubs and using the stolen Visa card to buy a $1,800 laptop computer, according to prosecutors.
Hospital workers identified him from the video and he was fired for violating Sentara’s ethics policy.
© YellowBrix 2008
mommaniese
about 1 year ago
282 comments
This don't say how long he's been doing this without getting caught, it just shows he got caught this time!!!!
srfaller
about 1 year ago
20 comments
What a pitiful man and disgrace to nursing. He should have to serve his entire sentence.
blue_yuina
about 1 year ago
2 comments
is his salary not enough for him?
jane_0126
about 1 year ago
1650 comments
He must be really desperate to get a laptop to do such thing...
dinahlevie
about 1 year ago
4 comments
oh boy! you should have exercised your good judgement instead of being an impulsive one!
i suggest "YOU" to seek a psychiatric help before it's too late..
good luck.
tiffannij
about 1 year ago
178 comments
Credit card fraud is very serious. There's no way he just got 30 days it says they sentence him to 8 years in prison with all but 30 days suspended whatever that means.
snowangel6793
about 1 year ago
12 comments
OH!!! you know you were wrong for that. you ought to be ashamed of yourself.
You need more than one month in jail and then you should have to face
his family and apologize. That just takes the Professional right out of
your name sir. You deserve to lose your license and the laptop. And I
agree too that nurses like this one do give those of us with a HEART a
rap
Shelli78
about 1 year ago
16 comments
He deserves much more than what he got.
EOBRN
about 1 year ago
2 comments
what kind of A PROFESSIIONAL NURSE would steal from a patient, deceased or alive? I am hopeful that he looses his nursing license!!!!! HE IS BAD FOR OUR PROFESSION.
MISSMISTI
about 1 year ago
156 comments
how stupid!!!! who would even think of something so sick? i think he should have gotten longer
Victoria_simon
about 1 year ago
564 comments
It just didn't worth it. He could have borrow or lay-a-way on the computer. He is really lucky he did not get a longer period. This goes to show that there are good and not so good nurses.
neuroRN
about 1 year ago
30 comments
I think his license needs to be reprimended for this. He is very lucky he only got 30 days. Very stupid decision on his part. Nurses like this give good nurses a bad reputation.
HeaHay
about 1 year ago
2 comments
That is just really sad ANYONE would do that especailly someone in our field.....if you can't trust us......who can you trust???
mikeriveraprod
about 1 year ago
16 comments
at least he got a laptop
lilymrose
about 1 year ago
2 comments
30 days in jail, THAT'S ALL!!!! He needs to have his licensed revoked for good!