A Pennsylvania doctor claims a fake social worker tricked him into writing prescriptions for controlled substances for patients who did not exist, according to this article in the Trentonian.

Dr. William Kropinicki said Carl Hames convinced him he was a social worker and asked him to write painkiller prescriptions for people recently released from jail who lived in a halfway house.

However, an investigation found there was no halfway house and Hames was a convicted criminal who had served time on murder and drug charges.

Kropinicki said he was tricked and should not be convicted of writing false prescriptions.

He said Hames dressed well, had a badge, and answered his cellphone in a way that identified him as working for a halfway house. Hames also brought patients for initial visits although he stopped bringing them  after a few months.

“Perhaps the doctor was naive, but he trusted Hames,” defense attorney Edward Logan said.