MIAMI – Higher than two dozen individuals have been charged inside the Southern District of Florida for his or her alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses.
Consistent with three recently unsealed indictments returned by a South Florida federal grand jury and two informations filed by federal prosecutors, defendants engaged in a scheme to advertise fraudulent nursing diploma diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing faculties to individuals trying to find licenses and jobs as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed wise/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs).
The bogus diplomas and transcripts licensed purchasers to sit down for the nationwide nursing board examination and, after passing it, to accumulate licenses and jobs in different states as RNs and LPN/VNs. The overall scheme involved the distribution of better than 7,600 faux nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing faculties: Siena School in Broward County, Fla., Palm Seashore School of Nursing in Palm Seashore County, Fla., and Sacred Coronary coronary heart Worldwide Institute in Broward County. These faculties are literally closed.
Each defendant faces as a lot as 20 years in jail.
“Not solely is that this a public safety concern, it moreover tarnishes the recognition of nurses who really full the demanding medical and course work required to accumulate their expert licenses and employment,” talked about U.S. Authorized skilled for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, who added that “a fraud scheme like this erodes public perception in our properly being care system.”
Crimes resembling these sadly proceed to spring up, notably on this house.
“Nicely being care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a method to earn easy, though illegal, money, “talked about performing Explicit Agent in Value Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami. “What’s disturbing about this investigation is that there are over 7,600 people throughout the nation with fraudulent nursing credentials who’re doubtlessly in essential properly being care roles treating victims. Have been it not for the diligence and onerous work of the investigators on this case, the extent of this fraud may not have been discovered.”
The charges talk to the purpose of a nursing license which is to protect most of the people from damage by setting minimal {{qualifications}} and competencies.
“The alleged selling and shopping for of nursing diplomas and transcripts to eager nevertheless unqualified individuals is towards the regulation that doubtlessly endangers the properly being and safety of victims and insults the honorable occupation of nursing,” talked about Explicit Agent in Value Omar Pérez Aybar of Division of Nicely being and Human Firms, Office of Inspector Frequent (HHS-OIG). “In coordination with our regulation enforcement companions, HHS-OIG continues to aggressively study unhealthy actors who so overtly disregard the well-being of others as a option to enrich themselves fraudulently.”
Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Siena School.
U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no.: 23-60005-Cr-Smith
U.S. v. Sanon, case no.: 23-60013-Cr-Moreno
The charging paperwork describe Siena School as a Broward County school licensed by the Florida Payment for Unbiased Coaching and the Florida Board of Nursing that offers a Smart Nursing Program and an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. Eunide Sanon managed Siena School.
The indictment charges defendants Stanton Witherspoon of Burlington County N.J.; Alfred Sellu of Burlington County N.J.; and Rene Bernadel of Westchester County, N.Y. with conspiring to commit and committing wire fraud. The indictment alleges that Witherspoon, Sellu, and Bernadel solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to attain employment as an RN or LPN/VN. It is alleged that these defendants organized with Sanon, who managed Siena School and is charged by information with wire fraud conspiracy, to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts. These faux paperwork represented that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Siena School’s nursing program in Broward County and completed the required applications and clinicals to accumulate RN or LPN/VN diplomas. The reality is, the aspiring nurses in no way completed the required applications and clinicals.
The information in direction of Sanon alleges that he and others purchased 1000’s of fake Siena School nursing diplomas and educational transcripts to nursing candidates who used them to accumulate RN or LPN/VN licenses in different states and nursing jobs with unwitting properly being care suppliers all via the nation.
Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Seashore School of Nursing.
U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no.: 23-60007-Cr-Singhal
Consistent with the charging paperwork, Palm Seashore School of Nursing’s objective was to arrange school college students to satisfy Florida’s licensing and nursing board requirements and develop into eligible to take the nationwide licensing examination as a option to work as registered nurses.
The indictment charges Gail Russ of Broward County; Cheryl Stanley of Collier County, Fla.; Krystal Lopez of Palm Seashore County; Ricky Riley of Broward County; Norberto Lopez of Palm Seashore County; Damian Lopez of Palm Seashore County; Francois Legagneur of Nassau County, N.Y.; Reynoso Seide of Union County, N.J.; Cassandre Jean of Palm Seashore County; Yelva Saint Preux of Suffolk County, N.Y.; Evangeline Naissant of Nassau County, N.Y.; Rony Michel of Monmouth County, N.J.; Vilaire Duroseau of Essex County, N.J.; and Yvrose Thermitus, a/okay/a “Yvrose Thompson,” of Union County, N.J., with conspiring to commit, and committing, wire fraud. The indictment alleges that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to attain employment as an RN or LPN/VN.
It is alleged that these recruiter defendants then organized with Palm Seashore School of Nursing’s proprietor Johanah Napoleon and school employees Gail Russ, Cheryl Stanley, Krystal Lopez, and Ricky Riley to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts representing that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Palm Seashore School of Nursing and completed the required applications and clinicals to accumulate RN or LPN/VN diplomas. The reality is, the aspiring nurses in no way completed the required applications and clinicals.
The nursing candidates used the faux diplomas and transcripts they purchased from the proprietor and employees of Palm Seashore School of Nursing to accumulate RN or LPN/VN licenses in different states and nursing jobs with unwitting properly being care suppliers all via the nation. Napoleon was beforehand charged by information and has pled accountable to conspiring to commit properly being care fraud and wire fraud, along with wire fraud (case nos. 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith).
Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Sacred Coronary coronary heart Worldwide Institute
U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no.: 23-60010-Cr-Smith
U.S. v. Etienne, case no.: 23-60012-Cr-Singhal
Consistent with charging paperwork, Sacred Coronary coronary heart Worldwide Institute was a Broward County School licensed by the Florida Board of Nursing that provided a nursing program designed to arrange school college students for employment as wise nurses.
The indictment charges Ludnie Jean of Harris County, Texas; Serge Jean of Harris County, Texas; Simon Itaman of Harris County, Texas; Anna Itaman of Harris County, Texas; Rhomy Louis of Suffolk County, N.Y.; and Nadege Auguste of Broward County with conspiring to and committing wire fraud. It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to attain employment as an LPN/VN. These recruiters then organized with Charles Etienne, Sacred Coronary coronary heart’s proprietor, to create and distribute false and fraudulent transcripts and diplomas representing that the aspiring candidates had attended Sacred Coronary coronary heart and completed the required applications and clinicals to accumulate LPN/VN diplomas. The reality is, the aspiring nurses in no way completed the required applications and clinicals. Etienne is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The nursing candidates used the faux diplomas and transcripts they purchased from Sacred Coronary coronary heart to accumulate LPN/VN licenses in different states and nursing jobs with unwitting properly being care suppliers all via the nation.
U.S. Authorized skilled for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; performing Explicit Agent in Value Chad Yarbrough, FBI, Miami Topic Office; and Explicit Agent in Value Omar Perez Aybar, HHS-OIG, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these situations. Invaluable assist was supplied by Homeland Security Investigations, Miami Topic Office; U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector Frequent; United States Postal Inspection Service, Miami; and Florida Authorized skilled Frequent-Florida Medicaid Fraud Administration Unit, Mid-Atlantic Topic Office. Assistant U.S. Authorized skilled Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting this case and Assistant U.S. Authorized skilled Nicole Grosnoff is coping with asset forfeiture. This case is being prosecuted along with a related jail matter inside the District of Maryland.
Related court docket docket paperwork and information may be found on the net website of the District Courtroom for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov
Click on on proper right here to entry charging paperwork.
23-CR-60005
23-CR-60007
23-CR-60010
23-CR-60012
23-CR-60013
