Ghanaians arrested in check thefts from patients

Denver, Colorado, USA --Three health care workers at two retirement communities and a hospital were arrested last month on suspicion of stealing checks from patients and cashing them.

Leticia Osei Bonsu, 21, and George Oppong, 35, were in custody on immigration holds Friday. Both had expired vacation visas from Ghana in West Africa.

Raymond Wayoe, 28, was released from Denver County Jail on $10,000 bail.

All three were arrested Feb. 28.

According to a Denver District Attorney's Office press release, Bonsu, who used the name Mavis Ofisu-Armaah, allegedly used her position as a nurse's aide at CherryOak Retirement Community, 6800 S. Leetsdale Drive, to enter residents' apartments to steal checks.

She is suspected of giving the checks to Oppong, who worked at Cherry Park Health Care Center, 3636 S. Pearl St., and Wayoe, who was a nursing assistant at Exempla St. Joseph Hospital.

Six checks totaling $2,300 were cashed.

At the time of her arrest, Bonsu had checks from 20 CherryOak residents, according to the DA's office.

Bonsu and Wayoe were each charged with two counts of theft, one count of conspiracy to commit theft, one count of forgery and one count of criminal impersonation.

Oppong was charged with one count of theft and one count of conspiracy.

All three have been terminated from their employment.