Now Brown is left wondering about all the money she spent and whether or not she can get it all back. Predestin worked at Docu-Flex and PowerfulU to help Adrien provide fake nursing diplomas and transcripts to students from the two schools in Broward and Palm Beach counties, the affidavit. 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. Prez said investigators have not found, however, that any of the nurses caused harm to patients. All rights reserved. They were charged with conspiring to and committing wire fraud, prosecutors said. "The most important thing for us was to make sure, to the extent were talking about health care, is that we stop the bleeding," Lapointe said. Practical Nursing Program Specific Requirements 1. to ensure that transcripts are submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the specific Etienne is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. More than $100 million worth of bogus nursing diplomas and transcripts were sold to 7,600 individuals who paid an average of $15,000 to obtain them. 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. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. A copy of your driver license, state ID, or other form of photo identification showing your name, date of birth and signature is required. 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. How Do Nurses Protect Themselves from Highly Infectious Patients? Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. Official websites use .gov program application deadline to ensure timely review. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Take a Look, Police Reunite Parents With Toddler Found Wandering in Miramar, A Toxic Plant Was Removed From a Miami Park. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Exams were taken in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Texas. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Telephone or Fax requests will not be honored. High School Graduate GED Student Home Education Graduate Out of Country Credentials College/University Transfer Student at admissions@palmbeachstate.edu. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) / RECORDS MANAGEMENT. The information against Sanon alleges that he and others sold thousands of fake Siena College nursing diplomas and educational transcripts to nursing applicants who used them to obtain RN or LPN/VN licenses in various states and nursing jobs with unwitting health care providers throughout the country. Prior to 2010, schools were only obligated to maintain records for five years (for certificate and non-degree granting programs) or 50 years if the school granted degrees. Stop the bleeding. at transcriptevaluation@palmbeachstate.edu. to request a transcript. The school was licensed with the Florida Board of Nursing but it was terminated in 2017 due to low passing rates on the state certification exam. Individuals with prior criminal circumstances on their background check may not be eligible for licensure or employment. For more information, visitpalmbeachstate.edu/admissions/credit-by-exam. 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, said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, who added that a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.. The bleeding here is to stop those schools from being able to put more fraudulent diplomas out in the public sphere.". 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 Countywith conspiring to and committing wire fraud. After passing the exam, they became eligible to become licensed in several states, where they eventually found jobs as licensednurses. all right, chris, thank you. 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 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. 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. 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. Related: HHS: Insiders Pose Significant Cybersecurity Threat to Healthcare. The School of Nursing offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs, features state-of-the-art lab resources and offers students a holistic approach to the nursing profession. Exams were taken in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Texas. We are an A-rated School District with 335 Choice & Career Programs. The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. States is optional. The indictment alleges that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an RN or LPN/VN. "I see it as rewarding.". Our mission is to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system. In coordination with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG continues to aggressively investigate bad actors who so brazenly disregard the well-being of others in order to enrich themselves fraudulently.. "Tuition, I paid $16,000, not to mention I had to pay $99 to sit the exam," Brown said. Defendants sold fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses, according to three recently unsealed indictments returned by a South Florida federal grand jury on Jan. 12 and information filed by federal prosecutors. : 23-60005-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Sanon, case no. school or college/university attended. *Diplomas are not accepted as proof of high school completion or in place of transcripts. U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. RELATED: Considering & Choosing a Nursing School. Crimes such as these unfortunately continue to spring up, especially in this area. : 23-60013-Cr-Moreno. Pay a non-refundable application fee of $150.00. These recruiters then arranged with Charles Etienne, Sacred Hearts owner, to create and distribute false and fraudulent transcripts and diplomas representing that the aspiring candidates had attended Sacred Heart and completed the necessary courses and clinicals to obtain LPN/VN diplomas. How Do I Get Transcripts from a Nursing School That Has Closed? or both | Get started now. date. Attorneys for defendants were not listed in a federal court database Thursday. Prosecutors said the scheme put patient safety at risk as required training programs exist to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies.. U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no. All trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. Copy of pictured ID of adult student or parent guardian. minutes, too. Transcripts can be sent via secure PDF directly from the issuing institution to Admissions The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. To be considered for a credit evaluation, applicants must have The other group included owners, operators and employees of nursing schools to fake diplomas and transcripts. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts fromSacred Heart International Institute, U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no. For example, the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE), which provides oversight of California's private postsecondary education institutions, is a depository for many closed schools and former students can request official transcripts from the archives. Mailed RequestsRequests submitted via mail/fax must include the following information: Link to Student Transcript / Records Request PBSD 1457, Requests may be mailed or faxed to the following address:The School District of Palm Beach CountyRecords Management3300 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite B-201West Palm Beach, FL 33406-5870Email:recordsmanagement@palmbeachschools.orgPhone: (561) 434-8550Fax: (561) 434-8660. This case is being prosecuted in conjunction with a related criminal matter in the District of Maryland. Investigators said about a third of the people actually are practicing medicine. Transcripts should be complete showing all final grades and if applicable graduation The U.S. Department of Justice announced . 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). Promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. 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.. To order a high school transcript electronically, visitParchment. "The most important thing for us was to make sure, to the extent were talking about health care, is that we stop the bleeding," Lapointe said. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. One nurse worked at a Veterans Affairs-run home. I would say that based on the rapid proliferation of online training programs that started well before COVID-19 but have definitely increased since COVID-19 just because of the difficulties we've had with being able to have in-person training, we know that there's going to be a higher chance that some of these people are going to slip through the cracks," Bernard said. Florida Public High Schools and Charter schools Please request that transcripts be submitted electronically via FASTER. "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, FBI Miami, said. The other 10 charged were listed as recruiters, including seven from New Jersey or New York. When Lucy Brown signed up for the Palm Beach School of Nursing, she thought she made the right choice. Miami, Fl. Defendants sold fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses, according to three recently unsealed indictments returned by a South Florida federal grand jury on Jan. 12 and information filed by federal prosecutors. Five Maryland, Virginia and Florida residents have been hit with federal charges related to the production and sale of fraudulent nursing transcripts and diplomas, the De | In two cases announced . Published on January 27, 2023 12:17 AM. Amanda Bucceri Androus is a Registered Nurse from Sacramento, California. Your Photos. "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," said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe. An official website of the United States government. FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these cases. The bleeding here is to stop those schools from being able to put more fraudulent diplomas out in the public sphere.". South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Sacred Heart International Institute, U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no. Online tracking is available 24/7. U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no. NOTICE: Under Florida law, email addresses are public record. About 2,400 of the 7,600 students eventually passed their licensing exams mainly in New York, federal officials said. The news stunned Brown, but she said she always thought something was a little sketchy about her online degree program. "It's a monster.". The other schools named are the Sacred Heart Institute in Fort Lauderdale in Sienna College of Health in Lauderhill in the investigation dubbed "Operation Nightingale" after legendary nurse Florence Nightingale. Currently, all schools are obligated to maintain transcript records indefinitely. : 23-60013-Cr-Moreno. This discussion will help participants analyze, understand, and assess their own program effectiveness. by either the U.S. Consulate or the Ministry of Education in the applicants country. 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. : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith). Recently unsealed federal grand jury indictments allege the defendants took part in a scam that sold more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, federal officials said during a news conference in Miami on Wednesday afternoon. 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. In coordination with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG continues to aggressively investigate bad actors who so brazenly disregard the well-being of others in order to enrich themselves fraudulently.. : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. Required fields are marked *. The college was run byEunide Sanon, who allegedly worked with three people, who are also charged, in New York and New Jersey who recruited aspiring nurses. 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. Documentation of successful completion of post-secondary. Prosecutors alleged recruiters arranged with Palm Beach School of Nursings owner, Napoleon, and school employees Gail Russ, Cheryl Stanley, Krystal Lopez and Ricky Riley to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts. The information against Sanon alleges that he and others sold thousands of fake Siena College nursing diplomas and educational transcripts to nursing applicants who used them to obtain RN or LPN/VN licenses in various states and nursing jobs with unwitting health care providers throughout the country. MIAMI 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. Siena College was a school in Broward County, Florida that was licensed by the states board of nursing and its independent education commission to offer practical nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. The overall scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools: Siena College in Broward County, Fla., Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Fla., and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County. Some schools will accept notarized copies of your own documents along with "proof" of the school's destruction. 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. 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). U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. The defendants each face up to 20 years in prison. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS the issuing institution. 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 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. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states,. The other group included owners, operators and employees of nursing schools to fake diplomas and transcripts. Out of State Public Schools and Private Schools Transcripts can be sent via Secure PDF directly from the school official to Admissions 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. Around 2,400 of those people then passed a licensing exam to obtain jobs as registered nurses and . MIAMI Federal authorities in Florida have charged 25 people with participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment. Students should download and print theHome Education Graduation Affidavit form. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in nursing. Prosecutors said the scheme also involved transcripts from the nursing schools for people seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses. Recruiters would bring "students" from other states to get the "shortcut" documents from the South Florida school. directly). In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. "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. It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an LPN/VN. For more information visit palmbeachstate.edu/international. The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. official to Admissions at. 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. Palm Beach State College prefers that transcripts be submitted electronically. Nurses certified in New York are allowed to practice in Florida and many other states. Fraudulent degrees qualified recipients to take the national nursing board exam. 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.". 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. 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. 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. Practical Nursing Program Description don@palmbeachintcollege.com Associate Of Science In Nursing Degree Program (ASN) : 23-60012-Cr-Singhal. Your email address will not be published. attended. from outside of the United States of America. 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. Parent signatures for minors. There is a $5.00 non-refundable fee for each official transcript requested. 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. : 23-60010-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Etienne, case no. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Siena College. 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. "Plus I paid the plane fare, hotel, so roughly $25,000.". Email Us. Crimes such as these unfortunately continue to spring up, especially in this area. Students applying to a Limited Access Program (Nursing, Fire Science, EMT, Etc.) 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. The schools involved Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute are now closed. 33132, Telephone: (305) 961-9001 He said it's particularly disturbing that more than 7,600 people around the country obtained fake credentials and were potentially in critical health care roles treating patients. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe speaks at a news conference in Miami on Wednesday about a network of nursing school operators, centered in South Florida, who allowed students to buy diplomas without the proper training.
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