Iowa City police: Perry woman accused of faking brain tumor to get narcotics

A 32-year-old woman from Perry has been arrested on suspicion of six counts of identity theft after police said they discovered evidence that she provided fictitious medical diagnosis letters to various healthcare providers between October and November 2010 in an attempt to get narcotics.

Iowa City police arrested Amanda Lucille Malek on suspicion of presenting the letters claiming she's been diagnosed with a brain tumor on apparent company letterhead, according to a criminal complaint. The healthcare facilities where Malek is accused of taking the letters reported having no records substantiating the information on the letters, according to the complaint.

Physicians who allegedly signed the letters have confirmed that they're fake, according to investigators.

One of the doctors reported having no affiliation with the facility where the letter supposedly originated, according to police.

“The defendant's medical and prescription history clearly demonstrated a pattern of behavior consistent with narcotic seeking,” according to the complaint.