Florida Nursing School Scandal 7600 Fake Degrees Worth Millions Sold

May 2024 · 2 minute read

The Florida nursing school scandal of selling fake degrees worth millions of dollars were brought to light by a joint federal law enforcement operation, Justice Department officials said Wednesday.

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General reported Wednesday that federal officials had prosecuted 25 persons from five different states for taking part in a scam to sell fake nursing school transcripts and degrees. 

Police departments from Florida, Texas, New York, Delaware, and New Jersey carried out search warrants and filed charges against 25 people for allegedly participating in the fraud. 

According to the release, it involved offering aspiring registered nurses, licensed nurse practitioners, and vocational nurses fake nursing degree credentials and transcripts from nursing schools in Florida. 

The candidates skipped through the necessary criteria to become registered nurses to obtain the false qualifications, which allowed them to appear for the national board exam.

According to the release, if they passed the exam, they would be qualified to apply for a license in their state and find work as nurses. 

According to investigators, the fraudulent operation resulted in the distribution of more than 7,600 fake transcripts and certificates. 

The alliance of nursing school operators implicated in the operation, according to The Miami Herald, charged between $10,000 and $17,000 for fake degrees.

Authorities have made 23 arrests, and two more suspects are anticipated to turn themselves in very soon. The following people were charged in the case:

  • Gail Russ
  • Cheryl Stanley
  • Krystal Lopez
  • Ricky Riley
  • Norberto Lopez
  • Francois Legangeur
  • Reynoso Seide
  • Cassandre Jean
  • Yelva Saint Preux
  • Evangeline Naissant
  • Rony Michel
  • Vilaire Duroseau
  • Yvrose Thermitus, aka “Yvrose Thompson”
  • Ludnie Jean
  • Serge Jean
  • Simon Itaman
  • Anna Itaman
  • Rhomy Louis
  • Nadege Auguste
  • Stanton Witherspoon
  • Alfred Sellu
  • Rene Bernadel
  • Eunice Sanon
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