TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee Community College student is facing felony charges after police say he forged a doctor's note to get financial aid.
Lionel Adebayo, 19, was arrested on Thursday for grand theft and altering a doctor's certificate of examination. Both are felony charges.
According to a probable cause document, the Tallahassee Community College Police Department began investigating the case in February.
TCC Financial Aid staff told police that Adebayo submitted an appeal for the denial of financial aid on Jan. 8. They say the appeal was based on serious illness or incapacity in an accident as evidenced by a doctor's note.
However, staff verified later on that the doctor's note had been forged. They told police that Adebayo would've been approved to receive between $684 and $2,735 depending on how many classes he signed up for.
Through an investigation, police were also able to confirm with the doctor named in the fake note that the note was fraudulent.
When police spoke with Adebayo on Feb. 22, he admitted that "the documents were not real," and told police he used a doctor's note his friend sent him.
He told them he handed it in to financial aid, unaware of the consequences.
However, documents show that the application Adebayo submitted had "specific language that states any false or misleading information will be reported to local law enforcement and may subject you to criminal prosecution."
Adebayo told police he did not see that on the form.
As a result of the evidence, TCC police obtained a warrant for Adebayo's arrest on Wednesday. He was taken into custody the next day and, as of Friday, remains in the Leon County Detention Facility.
