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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
aracelib
about 1 year ago
2 comments
wow! that just goes to show even dead they can steal from you! He deserves more punishment!!!
VIXEN007
about 1 year ago
38 comments
What a dirtbag! I hope he loses his license to practice. He could have bought a laptop from Dell for less than $500. He could have worked some extra shifts and paid it off in a month! What else has he stolen? We may never know.
scmadm
about 1 year ago
2 comments
Malenurse09,
I have to ask...what's wrong with YOU???
This professional healthcare provider STEALS a credit card from a patient and you don't think that justifies stiff punishment? Along with losing his license (which he will undoubtedly), he should be jailed for a minimum of 3 years. He wasn't some addict who found a dead guy and took his credit card...he represented the healthcare system, broke a public trust and committed a crime. He should pay dearly for such a transgression.
I have to wonder about your sense of integrity if you feel he shouldn't have been punished more severely.
alexan
about 1 year ago
2 comments
WHY was the sentence suspended? It is unbelievable that the penalty was not greater.
Malenurse09
about 1 year ago
8 comments
Yes Yes Yes! The man should be executed by hanging or firing squad!!!
What is wrong with you people? Yes, what Wiseman did is totally wrong but for Gods sakes people act as if he murdered someone in cold blood. Wiseman is 24 yrs and is given 30 days in jail which is sufficient not to mention a felony. Suspend the mans nursing license for at least 5 yrs. .
Now a felony, thats another subject all together. America has gone "felony crazy" and soon jay-walking will be considered a felony. Has rehabilitation become a bad word in this nation? Where is the compassion and common sense people??
fnugent
about 1 year ago
12 comments
I live in this area too and I was utterly shocked that you could do this and essentually just get a slap on the wrist.
casassy62688
about 1 year ago
288 comments
30 days?!? Well what the hell is wrong with our government? If that was any other guy, he would have had to pay the time. Plus. he should totally lose his license! What he did violates so many codes, rules, and promises that nurses follow. How wrong.
charlita
about 1 year ago
2978 comments
I live where this happened. This is nonsense. What about taking his nursing license away? This "nurse" should be nowhere near patients needing "his kind of care"
AnnGem
about 1 year ago
44 comments
horrible!!it will create a bad impression for us nurses..God have mercy on you,Mr Wiseman.
jackrich9
about 1 year ago
52 comments
what a nerve of this person who had done this.I agree with sap it gave nurses a bad rep..shame on them
sap
about 1 year ago
2404 comments
How come I'm hearing so much lately about "RN's gone bad"? It's a shame. These idiots are giving us a bad rap.
cuttie
about 1 year ago
798 comments
I don't know, why he couldn't save his money to buy himself one, my God he is a registered nurse, he can make up to $500.00 a shift through the registry, here in California, or better yet get a traveler nurses assignment, now his career is gone done the drain, for a few meesly bucks.
Account Removed
about 1 year ago
The State Board I think decides if his license to practice nursing is revoked
LovingMe2008
about 1 year ago
10 comments
This is just ridiculous,these sort of things are not expected out of someone who works in a medical field,supposedly trying to help someone.I think he should have been towed away just for the simple fact that he knows better. I bet he'll probably go somewhere and just get another job when he gets out.....I'm telling u..the judicial system and everyone are just starting to not give a damn....IT WASNT RIGHT!
emtpixie
about 1 year ago
326 comments
Welcome to the judicial system in VA folks! I live here and unfortunately this pitiful punishment doesn't surprise me. He should spend 10 years plus in prison and lose his license for life. Also, (not trying to start anything here) I have been a pt. at Sentara (the one in or near Hampton, va) and the way the ER treated me was appallingly terrible. The way the complaint was handled by the hospital was pathetic as well. So this really doesn't surprise me that it happened at a Sentara hospital. By the way, has anyone noticed this man's last name? Wiseman...looks like he wasn't such a "wise man", was he?