The Malachi Love-Robinson Case: How ‘Dr. Love’ Fooled the World and Risked Lives
Malachi Love-Robinson
His name is Malachi Love-Robinson, but you might know him by his nickname, “Dr. Love.” You may have even seen the memes. But let me tell you, this story is way more than just internet jokes. Malachi wasn’t just pretending to be a doctor for fun—he was scamming people out of thousands of dollars and putting real patients at risk. And what’s crazy is how long he got away with it!
We’re going to jump into the details of how this all unfolded, and trust me, there’s a lot to unpack. We’ll look at how a 17-year-old walked the halls of a hospital pretending to be an anesthesiologist, how he conned his way into running a clinic, and how the law eventually caught up to him. So, buckle up—this one is a wild ride.
Born in May 1997, Malachi Love-Robinson grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. His early life remains relatively private, though it is known that he was homeschooled and developed an intense interest in medicine from a young age. However, this interest would quickly take a dark turn as Malachi’s fascination with the world of healthcare led him to cross ethical—and legal—boundaries.
At just 17 years old, Malachi pulled off his first notable act of deception in January 2015. Wearing a white lab coat and a stethoscope, Malachi spent an entire month posing as a doctor at St. Mary’s Medical Center, a major hospital in West Palm Beach. Remarkably, no one immediately questioned the teenager roaming the halls and interacting with patients, despite his age. He told hospital staff he was an anesthesiologist, and incredibly, they believed him.
It wasn’t until a gynecologist noticed something off about Malachi that hospital authorities started asking questions. When confronted, he claimed that he had “shadowed doctors” at the hospital before but denied pretending to be a licensed physician. Despite being escorted from the premises, no formal charges were filed against Malachi, as St. Mary’s chose not to pursue legal action.
This moment could have been a wake-up call for Malachi, a close brush with getting caught that might have ended his schemes. Instead, the lack of consequences only emboldened him, leading to a much larger and more dangerous con.
By June 2015, just six months after the St. Mary’s incident, Malachi upped the ante. This time, he wasn’t content simply wandering the halls of a hospital—he was ready to take his fraudulent career to a whole new level. And this is where his next big scheme, involving a drug rehabilitation center, began to take shape.
After his close call at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Malachi Love-Robinson decided that impersonating a doctor inside a hospital wasn’t enough for him. His ambitions were growing, and by June 2015, at just 18 years old, Malachi had set his sights on a larger target: New Directions, a drug rehabilitation facility in West Palm Beach.
This time, Malachi wasn’t just pretending to be a doctor—he went a step further by falsifying credentials. He created elaborate documents that showed he had earned a PhD in psychology from Arizona State University and was fully licensed to practice as a psychologist. Incredibly, he convinced the facility’s staff that he was not only qualified to work there, but that he was 28 years old—a full 10 years older than his actual age.
For several months, Malachi worked at New Directions, earning an impressive $70,000 salary while conducting one-on-one therapy sessions with patients suffering from addiction. He was deeply involved in clinical meetings, where he discussed treatment plans and patient care, all while having no formal training. Malachi’s ability to present himself as a knowledgeable and experienced psychologist was convincing enough that no one at the facility questioned his background.
During his time at New Directions, Malachi’s interactions with patients were not just unethical—they were illegal. He gave advice, created treatment plans, and performed assessments, despite being completely unqualified. Yet, because Malachi never prescribed medications, he managed to escape legal consequences—at least for a time.
It wasn’t until an anonymous tip was submitted to the Florida Department of Health that Malachi’s scheme began to unravel. Investigators started to look into his background, and what they found was shocking: there was no record of Malachi being licensed to practice psychology. Worse yet, the supposed PhD he claimed to have earned was completely fabricated.
Incredibly, despite being caught once again, Malachi walked away without facing serious charges. Because he hadn’t administered any medications or performed any medical procedures, there was technically no criminal offense that could be proven. This was another missed opportunity for the law to stop Malachi’s fraudulent activities.
Rather than taking this as a signal to stop, Malachi doubled down. He was emboldened by the fact that he had conned a major facility without consequences, and his next move would be even bolder. This time, he would open his own medical clinic.
By the end of 2015, Malachi Love-Robinson was no longer satisfied with impersonating a psychologist at an established facility. Instead, he decided to take his con to a whole new level by opening his own medical clinic. At just 18 years old, Malachi opened New Birth New Life Medical Center & Urgent Care, a fraudulent practice based in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he presented himself as a naturopathic doctor. With the ability to project confidence and authority, he managed to convince unsuspecting patients that he was qualified to treat their ailments.
One of the most notable victims of Malachi’s scam was Anita Morrison, an 86-year-old woman who reached out to him for help. Anita had been suffering from chronic stomach pain and, in her vulnerable state, trusted Malachi to treat her. Malachi visited Anita’s home, performed a supposed medical examination, and confidently diagnosed her with arthritis—a diagnosis that, of course, was wildly inaccurate given her symptoms.
What followed was a shocking series of events. Malachi began prescribing Anita over-the-counter remedies, such as melatonin and sleep aids, assuring her that these natural treatments would alleviate her pain. During his visits, Malachi also gained access to Anita’s personal information, including her checkbook. Taking advantage of her trust, Malachi began writing fraudulent checks from Anita’s account to himself, stealing a staggering $35,000 in the process.
Anita’s situation took a turn when she realized that not only were her medical treatments ineffective, but her bank account had been drained. She reported the theft to the authorities, and this time, investigators took a hard look at Malachi’s activities. What they uncovered was far worse than they could have imagined.
In addition to his fraudulent activity with Anita, Malachi had been seeing other patients at his so-called medical clinic. He had registered his practice with the state, complete with a website and online profiles touting his “qualifications.” Malachi even performed physical exams on patients, claiming to specialize in holistic treatments and alternative medicine. But of course, there was no medical license—just the con artist who had become disturbingly adept at pretending to be a doctor.
As more of his fraudulent activities came to light, local news outlets began to report on the bizarre story of a teenager running a medical practice. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Malachi continued to insist that he was a legitimate doctor. His confidence, which had helped him deceive so many, only deepened as the media frenzy around the case grew.
The authorities, now fully aware of the extent of Malachi’s deception, set up a sting operation to catch him in the act. An undercover police officer, posing as a patient, visited Malachi’s clinic for a consultation. As expected, Malachi conducted a physical exam on the officer, offering medical advice and suggesting treatments—actions he was completely unqualified to perform. With the evidence they needed, the police arrested Malachi shortly after.
As the scope of Malachi Love-Robinson’s fraudulent activities became clear, law enforcement knew they needed solid, undeniable evidence to bring him down. Despite stealing thousands of dollars and pretending to be a licensed doctor, Malachi had managed to evade serious consequences in the past due to a lack of direct proof of wrongdoing. This time, though, the authorities were determined to put an end to his schemes for good.
In early February 2016, investigators set up a sting operation to catch Malachi in the act. An undercover police officer, posing as a patient, made an appointment at New Birth New Life Medical Center. During the appointment, Malachi performed a physical exam on the officer, despite having no medical training or certification. He recommended treatments and even went so far as to suggest further medical tests, all while pretending to be a legitimate naturopathic doctor.
This was the evidence law enforcement needed. With proof that Malachi was practicing medicine without a license, the police moved in. Shortly after the undercover appointment, Malachi was arrested at his clinic. The arrest made headlines across the country, with news outlets seizing on the absurdity of a teenager running a fraudulent medical practice and treating real patients.
What followed was a series of baffling interviews, in which Malachi doubled down on his claims of being a real doctor. One of the most infamous moments came when he sat down with WPBF 25 News reporter Terry Parker. During the interview, Malachi maintained his innocence, asserting that he had done nothing wrong. With a calm demeanor, he told Parker that he never misrepresented himself and that the charges against him were simply misunderstandings. Despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary, Malachi continued to claim that he was a legitimate doctor who had been unfairly targeted.
The interviews only added to the media frenzy surrounding the case, as people were captivated by Malachi’s audacity. He portrayed himself as a victim, insisting that his arrest was unjust, all while refusing to acknowledge the seriousness of his crimes.
While out on bail following his arrest in Florida, Malachi couldn’t resist his old habits. Just months later, he was caught once again trying to scam someone—this time in Virginia. He attempted to purchase a Jaguar luxury vehicle using a stolen identity, leading to another arrest. With this, it became clear that Malachi’s fraudulent tendencies extended far beyond pretending to be a doctor.
By the time Malachi faced his first court hearing, his list of charges was extensive, including fraud, grand theft, and practicing medicine without a license. As investigators continued to dig, they discovered that his web of deception stretched even further than initially thought. The case against him was strong, and it was becoming increasingly clear that Malachi’s days of playing doctor were over.
Even after his first high-profile arrest, Malachi Love-Robinson couldn’t seem to break his pattern of fraud. After being charged for impersonating a doctor and running a fake clinic in Florida, you would think that Malachi might take a step back and reassess his actions. But instead, he continued down a path of deception that led to even more arrests and legal trouble.
While out on bail following his initial arrest, Malachi traveled to Virginia, where he quickly found himself in trouble once again. In September 2016, he attempted to purchase a luxury Jaguar vehicle from a dealership in Stafford County, Virginia, using fraudulent financial documents and a stolen identity. The dealership became suspicious when Malachi presented questionable paperwork to secure financing for the vehicle, prompting them to call the police. Once again, Malachi was arrested—this time for charges related to fraud and identity theft.
The incident in Virginia only added to Malachi’s mounting legal problems. Back in Florida, investigators were continuing to piece together just how widespread his schemes had become. Beyond his fraudulent medical practice and theft from Anita Morrison, authorities discovered that Malachi had also been stealing from employers and engaging in multiple acts of grand theft. One particularly notable case involved Malachi stealing nearly $40,000 from a former employer, rerouting company funds to his personal account.
As more details emerged, it became clear that Malachi had left a trail of deceit wherever he went. His ability to manipulate people and systems was unsettling, especially given his young age. Law enforcement officials were now determined to hold him accountable for the full scope of his crimes.
By early 2017, Malachi was facing numerous charges related to his fraudulent activities, ranging from grand theft and identity fraud to practicing medicine without a license. Prosecutors were building a strong case, and the weight of the evidence against Malachi was overwhelming. With the possibility of spending years behind bars, Malachi’s days of running scams were quickly coming to an end.
By the time Malachi Love-Robinson faced trial in 2017, the scope of his fraud was undeniable. He had been charged with a long list of offenses, including grand theft, identity fraud, and practicing medicine without a license. His fraudulent medical practice, the stolen funds, and his arrest in Virginia for trying to purchase a luxury car all contributed to a case that was nearly impossible for Malachi to contest.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Malachi’s legal team entered negotiations with prosecutors, leading to a plea deal in March 2017. As part of the deal, Malachi pleaded guilty to five charges, including grand theft and practicing medicine without a license. In exchange for his plea, the state dropped several of the additional charges he had been facing, which could have carried a much longer sentence.
In a courtroom packed with reporters, Malachi stood before the judge and maintained his calm demeanor, even as he faced the consequences of his actions. The court ultimately sentenced him to 3.5 years in prison, a relatively light sentence considering the sheer volume of crimes he had committed. However, he was also ordered to repay the money he had stolen from his victims, including the $35,000 he had swindled from Anita Morrison and other victims.
For Malachi, the sentence marked the end of his fraudulent career as a “doctor,” but it was clear to many that his manipulative tendencies hadn’t fully disappeared. Even as he stood before the court, he never fully admitted the extent of his wrongdoing. In interviews and statements, he often portrayed himself as a victim of circumstance, unwilling to take full responsibility for the harm he had caused.
But Malachi’s time behind bars wasn’t the end of his legal troubles. In December 2020, after serving part of his sentence, he was arrested once again—this time for stealing more than $10,000 from his employer at a freight shipping company. Using his old tricks, Malachi rerouted customer payments to his own bank account, further demonstrating that his penchant for fraud had not faded during his time in prison.
With his latest arrest, Malachi faced even more charges, and it became clear that his tendency to con people was a deep-seated part of his personality. While his time pretending to be a doctor had come to an end, Malachi’s life of fraud continued to unfold, leaving many to wonder if he would ever truly be able to change his ways.
The bizarre and shocking case of Malachi Love-Robinson, also known as “Dr. Love,” is a story of deception, audacity, and repeated fraud. What began as a teenage boy wandering the halls of a hospital pretending to be an anesthesiologist quickly spiraled into an elaborate scheme where Malachi ran his own medical clinic, scammed vulnerable patients, and stole thousands of dollars.
Malachi’s case is both disturbing and fascinating—a young man who managed to fool so many people for so long, even as the evidence of his fraud mounted. Despite facing legal consequences, including a 3.5-year prison sentence for his crimes, Malachi’s penchant for fraud didn’t end there. His 2020 arrest for embezzling money from his employer only solidified the pattern of deceit that defined much of his young adult life.
In the end, Malachi’s story serves as a reminder of how easily trust can be exploited, particularly by individuals who are skilled at manipulating others. For his victims, especially people like Anita Morrison, the damage wasn’t just financial—it was a profound betrayal of trust. And while Malachi has faced punishment for his actions, it remains to be seen whether he will truly change his ways or continue down the path of deception.
As of today, Malachi remains a cautionary tale of ambition gone wrong, a young man who could have channeled his intelligence and drive into something far more meaningful—but instead chose a life of fraud.
Thank you for joining me in unraveling this strange and unsettling case. Be sure to stay tuned for more intriguing stories on Mama Mystery—there are always more twists and turns in the world of crime.