Over 7,600 fake nursing degrees issued in Florida in alleged wire fraud scheme

25 charged in South Florida centralized fraudulent nursing degree program

25 people charged in South Florida centralized nursing degree fraud scheme 02:41

Thousands of nurses practicing in the US are likely working with fake degrees after federal officials uncovered an alleged conspiracy at three nursing schools in South Florida. The Justice Department said Wednesday that the schools, now closed, allegedly issued more than 7,600 false and unqualified nursing degrees.

Schools involved in the alleged scheme include Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing, and Sacred Heart International Academy. The Justice Department charged more than two dozen people with their related charges, saying they “participated in a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing degrees and transcripts obtained from accredited nursing schools in the United States.” Florida.” .” Each defendant now faces 20 years in prison.

According to the indictment documents, many of those involved in the alleged scheme were out-of-state, including those from New York and New Jersey. Nurses with fake degrees have gone on to work in a variety of settings, including in-home child care, veterans’ work and living facilities, and in some states, resources data shows, including Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, Maryland and Texas.

The alleged schemes took place between 2016 and 2021.

Those with fake degrees can take the national nursing board exam, and then get licensed and work in “different states” as registered nurses (RNs), medical licensed practical nurse (LPN) and vocational nurse (VN),” the DOJ said.

Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said a plan like this “erodes public trust in our health care system.”

“This is not only a public safety concern but also tarnishes the reputations of nurses, who actually complete clinical work and demanding coursework to get their license,” says Lapointe. license to practice. their profession and their work”.

Among those charged are Burlington County, New Jersey, residents Stanton Witherspoon and Alfred Sellu and Westchester County, New York, resident Rene Bernadel. Prosecutors said the three were “invited and recruited” to seek nursing degrees and then worked with Eunide Sanon of Siena College “to create and distribute fake and fraudulent degrees as well. like fraudulent transcripts” was sold to “thousands” of nursing applications. Those papers incorrectly claimed that aspiring nurses had entered Broward County’s nursing program and completed their courses and clinical, prosecutors allege.

Other schools with the alleged names did the same.

American Nurses Association president Jennifer Mensik Kennedy said on Thursday that the “coordinated conspiracy” was “disturbing” and “very disturbing.”

“Nursing is certainly a highly specialized and ethical profession that requires rigorous and lifelong education and training to gain unmatched clinical expertise. You just can’t get it. this overnight,” she said. “There are no shortcuts in nursing – our patients and clients depend on us. It is a demanding and rewarding profession that requires individuals to adapt to the context of care. Healthcare is complex and evolving to ensure safe and quality patient care is delivered.”

She said: “The actions of those involved, including the schools that were once accredited, are ‘deplorable’.

“This undermines everything the nursing profession stands for and stands for, and is in direct opposition to the Code of Ethics for Nurses,” she said. “Furthermore, these illegal and unethical practices have discredited true nurses everywhere who have deserved the title of ‘Most Trusted and Ethical Professionals’. ‘.’ thanks to their education, hard work, dedication and time.”

Lee Cohen

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.

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