Contact: Troy Newman, President, 316-841-1700; Cheryl Sullenger, Senior Policy Advisor, 316-516-3034; both with Operation Rescue, info@operationrescue.org  

SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 1, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- Utah abortionist Nicola Riley has admitted that she lied to the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) about a criminal conviction and incarceration in order to gain licensure in that state.

As part of a settlement agreement with DOPL Riley admitted her deception and must now pay a fine of $10,000 to be paid over 18 months. She also has three months to write and submit an essay to DOPL describing how her unprofessional conduct has affected her patients and her profession.

"While we are happy that the DOPL acted to discipline Riley for lying, we are disappointed in the relatively light punishment considering the seriousness of the offense," said Operation Rescue President Troy Newman. "This sounds more like a school detention assignment than discipline for lying to obtain a medical license. Other states have taken her deception much more seriously."

Riley is best known for her involvement with the notorious Steven Chase Brigham in a botched late-term abortion at a secret abortion clinic in Elkton, Maryland, last year. Riley's Maryland license has been suspended.

Operation Rescue conducted further research on Riley and discovered she had a criminal conviction during her service in the U.S. Army. Operation Rescue received a copy of her criminal record through an open records request and discovered that she had grossly misrepresented her involvement in a credit card/identity theft ring on her medical license applications in the states of Maryland, Wyoming, and Utah.

On those applications she stated that she served one year at Ft. Leavenworth Military Prison for not quickly reporting the credit card fraud that was being perpetrated by her subordinates. In truth, Riley was herself deeply involved in fraudulently obtaining credit cards by using personal information stolen during her military duties. She then made large purchases using the fraudulent credit cards. Riley actually served 30 months in prison for her crimes.

Operation Rescue forwarded the documents to medical oversight boards in all three states where Riley held licenses. Maryland has filed formal charges against Riley for lying on her medical license application. Wyoming forced Riley to surrender her license there or face revocation hearings. Utah has barred Riley from doing abortions but so far has allowed her to keep her license pending the outcome of the Maryland disciplinary action.

"Riley's entire medical career is based on a lie. Riley broke a sacred trust that makes her completely unfit for the practice of medicine. A doctor that cannot be trusted to tell the truth cannot be trusted at all," said Newman.

About Operation Rescue® 
Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006.  From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates.