What is disturbing about this investigation is that there are over 7,600 people around the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who are potentially in critical health care roles treating patients. Health care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a way to earn easy, though illegal, money, said acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami. Fake Nursing School Degrees? Here's What We Know About The Federal The nursing candidates used the fake diplomas and transcripts they purchased from Sacred Heart to obtain LPN/VN licenses in various states and nursing jobs withunwitting health care providers throughout the country. Varela/Miami Herald via AP It is alleged that these recruiter defendants then arranged with Palm Beach School of Nursings owner 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 Beach School of Nursing and completed the necessary courses and clinicals to obtain RN or LPN/VN diplomas. Former student's full name (including maiden name, if applicable); Purpose of the request (employment, education or personal use), Address, fax or email to send the records to; and. The bogus diplomas and transcripts qualified purchasers to sit for the national nursing board exam and, after passing it, to obtain licenses and jobs in various states as RNs and LPN/VNs. Florida nursing schools are caught selling 7,600 fake diplomas The School of Nursing | Palm Beach Atlantic University In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Your email address will not be published. She was not named in the indictment. A credit card is needed for theeTranscriptfee, which is $5.90. The investigation turned up about $114 million dollars of fake nursing diplomas that were sold across three formerly accredited schools: Palm Beach School of Nursing. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida atwww.flsd.uscourts.govor athttp://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century. The charges speak to the purpose of a nursing license which is to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies. submitted as .pdf attachments. "What do we learn when somebody gets injured? Adrien offered the undercover employee a degree from the Palm Beach School of Nursing and training for a licensing exam in New York at a cost of $16,000, according to an FBI affidavit. Latest posts by Amanda Bucceri Androus, RN, BSN. EunideSanon managed Siena College. Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute - all based in south Florida - combined to distribute more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas worth over. Johanah Napoleon, the school's president, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as wire fraud in 2022. Nursing School Scam Leads To Indictments For Palm Beach County Have a question about Government Services? Palm Beach International College | Programs : 23-60005-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Sanon, case no. The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. More than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas were issued by the three nursing schools since 2016 at $15,000 each, netting them more than $114 million. The indictment charges Gail Russ of Broward County; Cheryl Stanley of Collier County, Fla.; Krystal Lopez of Palm Beach County; Ricky Riley of Broward County; Norberto Lopez of Palm Beach County; Damian Lopez of Palm Beach County; Francois Legagneur of Nassau County, N.Y.; Reynoso Seide of Union County, N.J.; Cassandre Jean of Palm Beach 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/k/a Yvrose Thompson, of Union County, N.J., with conspiring to commit, and committing, wire fraud. What You Need to Know About Angel's Trumpet, 40 Years Later, Adam Walsh's Abduction and Murder Not Forgotten in South Florida, Check Your Change! The copies will need to be certified Attorneys for defendants were not listed in a federal court database Thursday. The alleged selling and purchasing of nursing diplomas and transcripts to willing but unqualified individuals is a crime that potentially endangers the health and safety of patients and insults the honorable profession of nursing, said Special Agent in Charge Omar Prez Aybar of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). RELATED: Considering & Choosing a Nursing School. Fraudulent degrees qualified recipients to take the national nursing board exam. 4th Street Twenty-five defendants, including school directors and diploma recipients, were charged in the scheme and each face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. They were charged with conspiring to and committing wire fraud, prosecutors said. The School of Nursing - Palm Beach Atlantic University "I like to help people," said Brown, who concealed her face and didn't want to give her real name. The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. The nursing candidates used the fake diplomas and transcripts they purchased from Sacred Heart to obtain LPN/VN licenses in various states and nursing jobs withunwitting health care providers throughout the country. Published on January 27, 2023 12:17 AM. Official websites use .gov Now theyve filed complaints with their state attorneys to try and see how they can get their money back. Transcripts must be ordered online through services provided by Credentials Solutions Out of State Public Schools and Private Schools Transcripts can be sent via Secure PDF directly from the school official to Admissions Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute - all based in south Florida - combined to distribute more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas worth over. Student Speaks Out After Palm Beach School of Nursing Busted for The schools involved Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute are now closed. Were it not for the diligence and hard work of the investigators on this case, the extent of this fraud may not have been discovered.. Miami, Florida - Today, a Miami federal grand jury returned an indictment charging two Lauderhill residents for their roles in a fraud conspiracy that sold fake nursing degrees to people who had not completed the required nursing coursework or clinicals. U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. Palm Beach State College (PBSC) requires all incoming students, whether first year Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Sacred Heart International Institute, U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no. "Health care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a way to earn easy, though illegal, money," acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough said Wednesday. Admissions | Submit/Request Transcripts - Palm Beach State College The diploma and transcripts arrived less than two weeks later from Palm Beach School of Nursing, showing a 3.4 grade point average. 2018 School Referendum (Expiring 6/30/2023), African, African American, Latino, Holocaust, and Gender Studies, Elementary, Middle and High School Subject Areas, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), Implementation Plan for Required Instruction, Instructional Materials (Textbook) Adoption, International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs, McKinney-Vento Program (MVP) - Homelessness, Physical Education and Health (Elementary Schools), Physical Education, Health and Drivers Ed (Middle and High Schools), Reproductive Health and Disease Education, School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR), Student Internship and Volunteer Opportunities, 2021-2022 School Grades and School Improvement Ratings, Certification - Military Veterans Pathway, Fingerprint/ Background Check/ Drug Testing, Compensation and Employee Information Services, Deputy Superintendent and Chief of Schools, Multicultural Education and Migrant Education Programs (MEP), (Diversity) Small, Minority and Women-Owned - Vendors/Suppliers, Coordinated Planning Agencies - Vendors / Suppliers, Link to Student Transcript / Records Request, Student Transcript / Records Request PBSD 1457. Submission of college transcripts from postsecondary institutions outside the United It is alleged that these defendants arranged with Sanon, who managed Siena College and is charged by information with wire fraud conspiracy, to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. The School of Nursing prepares professional, competent nurses who are reflective, inquiring, able to apply nursing theory, processes and technical nursing skills within the context of the Christian worldview, while recognizing the global, pluralistic nature of society. Take a Look, Police Reunite Parents With Toddler Found Wandering in Miramar, A Toxic Plant Was Removed From a Miami Park. Applicants must meet the following requirements before being accepted: Be at least 18 years old. We are an A-rated School District with 335 Choice & Career Programs. This case is being prosecuted in conjunction with a related criminal matter in the District of Maryland. such as Joseph Silny and Associates, Inc. or World Education Services can be accessed Parent signatures for minors. More than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas were allegedly issued by three nursing schools in South Florida. More than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas were issued by the three nursing schools since 2016 at $15,000 each, netting them more than $114 million. West Palm Beach School Of Nursing - NursingTalk.net all right, chris, thank you. Transcripts should be complete showing all final grades and final graduation date. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. . Note: Transcripts need to show a graduation date to be considered complete and official. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. Transcript Request - Florida Department of Education These fake documents represented that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Siena Colleges nursing program in Broward County and completed the necessary courses and clinicals to obtain RN or LPN/VN diplomas. 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. USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov, Southern District of Florida U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. PLEASE NOTE: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only. What is disturbing about this investigation is that there are over 7,600 people around the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who are potentially in critical health care roles treating patients. NOTE: International students applying for F1 Visa / I-20 are advised to contact the office What To Do When Your School No Longer Physically Exists, Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Programs (AGNP), Womens Health Nurse Practitioner Programs, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), How Nurses Can Promote Vaccines Without Promoting Vaccines, CDC Estimates of Nurse & Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Cases Are Likely Understated, How Nurses Are Keeping Up With Practice Agreement Changes During COVID-19. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, Public Affairs Unit Officials are trying to track down nurses with fake degrees from Fla According to 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 sell fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). Johanah Napoleon, the school's president, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as wire fraud in 2022. There are additional handling fees for paper transcripts. But last week, federal authorities arrested 25 people and shut down the Palm Beach School of Nursing and two other colleges after investigators uncovered an elaborate web of money wiring, recruiting, and criminal activity to hand out fake nursing diplomas and transcripts. The other 10 charged were listed as recruiters, including seven from New Jersey or New York. Campus District Upcoming Events april27 Core Values Christ-centered Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute all based in south Florida combined to distribute more than 7,600 fraudulent diplomas worth over $100 million or roughly $15,000 per diploma, federal prosecutors said. Lauderhill Pair Charged In Scheme To Sell Fake Nursing Diplomas From about Nov. 2018 to Oct. 2021, Sanon allegedly sold 2,016 fake diplomas and transcripts that falsely purported that recipients had completed the necessary courses and training at Siena College to obtain such degrees when they never had, according to the criminal complaint. Practical Nursing Program Description don@palmbeachintcollege.com Associate Of Science In Nursing Degree Program (ASN) Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Miami Field Office; U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs-Office of Inspector General; United States Postal Inspection Service, Miami; and Florida Attorney General-Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Mid-Atlantic Field Office. Your Photos. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. Investigators said about a third of the people actually are practicing medicine. States is optional. "I see it as rewarding.". Qualified purchasers were allowed to sit for the national nursing board exam and, after passing it, to obtain licenses and jobs in various states as RNs and LPN/VNs. Stop the bleeding. or both | Get started now. Fax: (561)683-6773. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers ( AACRAO) can also assist former students in locating information related to offsite storage of transcripts for schools that are no longer standing. The alleged selling and purchasing of nursing diplomas and transcripts to willing but unqualified individuals is a crime that potentially endangers the health and safety of patients and insults the honorable profession of nursing, said Special Agent in Charge Omar Prez Aybar of Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Nurses are frustrated by months-long delays to get licensed in some states, Short-staffed and COVID-battered, U.S. hospitals are hiring more foreign nurses. Napoleon received largepayments for providing the fake diplomas, in one case taking in a $30,000 wire transfer from a co-defendant in 2021. Sacred Heart International Institute. She began her career working night shifts on a pediatric/ med-surg unit for six years, later transferring to a telemetry unit where she worked for four more years. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. NOTE:If you exited the District within the past 3 years, contact the last school you attended to process your records/transcript request.Official GED transcripts: visit the Florida Department of EducationRequest GEDPostsecondary Career & Technical Education (CTE) transcriptsfrom the Department of Adult & Community Education: complete aPostsecondary Career & Technical Education (CTE) Transcript Requestform. The philosophy of the School of Nursing at Palm Beach Atlantic University is one that is Christ-centered and focused on the success of the students . Individuals with prior criminal circumstances on their background check may not be eligible for licensure or employment. (payment by credit card only). Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Not only is this a public safety concern, it also tarnishes the reputation of nurses who actually complete the demanding clinical and course work required to obtain their professional licenses and employment," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said in Miami, adding that "a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.". U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. RegisteredNursing.org does not guarantee the accuracy or results of any of this information. Nurse Suicides: Unveiling the Shrouds of Silence. Lapointe added that "a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.". 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith). Adrien and Predestin are also named as co-conspirators in the Siena College case. to ensure that transcripts are submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the specific In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Were it not for the diligence and hard work of the investigators on this case, the extent of this fraud may not have been discovered.". What If My Nursing School Isnt Accredited? Florida nursing schools sold thousands of fake diplomas totaling $100M If you do not want your email addresses released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Group ranks health care industry's lowlights in 2022, FDA vaccine panel to consider annual COVID shots, Florida doc sentenced to 20 years in prison, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, The DOJ is prosecuting participants in the alleged scheme in five separate cases. Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Executive Director / President. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts fromSiena College. The indictment alleges that Witherspoon, Sellu, and Bernadel solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an RN or LPN/VN. list of approved agencies is located at www.NACES.org/members (Applications for agencies need How Do Nurses Protect Themselves from Highly Infectious Patients? : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. We will temporarily accept (due to COVID-19) clear copies of your high school diploma Court documents show that in 2021, an undercover FBI employee went into an office in Fort Lauderdale and was offered an associate's degree in the science of nursing for $16,000. The overall scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools, Miami, Florida More than two dozen individuals have been charged in the Southern District of Florida for their alleged participation in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses. Carleen Health institute In Fort Lauderdale, Fl This school offers training in 4 qualifications, with the most reviewed qualifications being Registered Nurse , C.N.A. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states, prosecutors said. If you see that we have records for a school that you attended and would like to see if we have your transcript, please complete the Transcript Request Form Transcript Request Form (PDF). palm beach school of nursing is located in West Palm Beach, FL, but also offers classes online. Florida nursing schools sold 7,600 fake diplomas worth more than $100 "Plus I paid the plane fare, hotel, so roughly $25,000.". The bleeding here is to stop those schools from being able to put more fraudulent diplomas out in the public sphere.". hide transcript show transcript.