AKRON, Ohio – A northeast Ohio woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after posing as a veterinarian at an animal clinic, treating dogs and cats for nearly two years, including some that apparently died in her care.
WEWS-TV in Cleveland reports that Brandi Tomko was sentenced Friday in Summit County Common Pleas Court. She plans to appeal.
Tomko was convicted last month on eight charges, including animal-related offenses and drug-related crimes. Police have said she pretended to be an animal doctor to support her drug habit.
She posed as a vet from 2009 to 2011 at C&D Animal Hospital in Akron, where she drew blood, wrote prescriptions and performed surgery including spaying cats and neutering at least one dog.