U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe speaks at a information convention in Miami on Wednesday a few community of nursing faculty operators, centered in South Florida, who allowed college students to purchase diplomas with out the right coaching.
D.A. Varela/Miami Herald through AP
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D.A. Varela/Miami Herald through AP
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe speaks at a information convention in Miami on Wednesday a few community of nursing faculty operators, centered in South Florida, who allowed college students to purchase diplomas with out the right coaching.
D.A. Varela/Miami Herald through AP
MIAMI — Federal authorities in Florida have charged 25 individuals with collaborating in a wire fraud scheme that created an unlawful shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and discover employment.
Recently unsealed federal grand jury indictments allege the defendants took half in a rip-off that bought greater than 7,600 fraudulent nursing diploma diplomas from three Florida-based nursing colleges, federal officers stated throughout a information convention in Miami on Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors stated the scheme additionally concerned transcripts from the nursing colleges for individuals looking for licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed sensible/vocational nurses. The defendants every resist 20 years in jail.
“Not solely is that this a public security concern, it additionally tarnishes the popularity of nurses who really full the demanding medical and course work required to acquire their skilled licenses and employment,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe.
Lapointe added that “a fraud scheme like this erodes public belief in our well being care system.”
The faux diplomas and transcripts certified those that bought them to sit down for the nationwide nursing board examination. If they handed, they have been capable of receive licenses and jobs in numerous states, prosecutors stated.
The colleges concerned — Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute — at the moment are closed.
Some of those that bought levels have been from South Florida’s Haitian-American neighborhood, together with some with professional LPN licenses who needed to turn into registered nurses, the Miami Herald reported.
“Health care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a technique to earn simple, although unlawful, cash,” appearing Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough stated Wednesday.
He stated it is notably disturbing that greater than 7,600 individuals across the nation obtained faux credentials and have been doubtlessly in essential well being care roles treating sufferers.
The promoting and buying of nursing diplomas and transcripts to “keen however unqualified people” is a criminal offense that “doubtlessly endangers the well being and security of sufferers and insults the honorable occupation of nursing,” stated Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar. Pérez stated investigators haven’t discovered, nonetheless, that any of the nurses triggered hurt to sufferers.
The college students paid a complete of $114 million for the faux levels between 2016 and 2021, the newspaper reported. About 2,400 of the 7,600 college students finally handed their licensing exams — primarily in New York, federal officers stated. Nurses licensed in New York are allowed to follow in Florida and lots of different states.
Many of these individuals could lose their certification however possible will not be criminally charged, federal officers stated.