Miami, Fl. USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov, Southern District of Florida 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. Fake Nursing School Degrees? Here's What We Know About The Federal : 23-60005-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Sanon, case no. According to charging documents, Sacred Heart International Institute was a Broward County School licensed by the Florida Board of Nursing that offered a nursing program designed to prepare students for employment as practical nurses. 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. Two business people charged with selling fake nursing degrees | Miami 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. A fake nursing diploma scheme brings 25 arrests in Florida : NPR 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. When it was dissolved in 2020, the address w 1110 Sixth Ave. S. in Lake Worth Beach. 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. hide transcript show transcript. Diplomas are not accepted as proof of high school completion or in place of transcripts. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Scheme Leads to Federal Charges Against 25 All trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. Palm Beach International College | Programs RELATED: Considering & Choosing a Nursing School. The schools involved Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute are now closed. Promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. No students were named in the indictments. And when I asked for the transcript, they sent us a fake transcript," she said. About 7,600 students paid an average of $15,000 for bogus diplomas, according to prosecutors. Carleen Health institute In Fort Lauderdale, Fl 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture. 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. "They are monsters because you have to have clinical experience to do medication, to give IV, you can kill somebody," she said. Etienne is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to authorities, the . Home / Nursing Articles / How Do I Get Transcripts from a Nursing School That Has Closed? Dr. Rebekah Bernard with the nonprofit Physicians for Patient Protection said its not surprising this is happening after the pandemic. 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.". (payment by credit card only). Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations 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.". Parent signatures for minors. Fax Line: (305) 530-7679. "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. Register today to attend this free webcast! Transcripts should be complete showing all final grades and final graduation date. Palm Beach State College (PBSC) requires all incoming students, whether first year or transfer students, to submit all official academic transcripts from every high school or college/university attended. The nursing applicants used the fake diplomas and transcripts they purchased from the owner and employees of Palm Beach School of Nursing to obtain RN or LPN/VN licenses in various states and nursing jobs with unwitting health care providers throughout the country. 12/20/2022) Record Copy - Records Management Duplicate - School/Department . A lock ( 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. Fraud: Palm Beach School of Nursing, Siena College of Health Florida Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. An official website of the United States government. A credit card is needed for theeTranscriptfee, which is $5.90. Amanda Bucceri Androus is a Registered Nurse from Sacramento, California. 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. Nursing School Scam Leads To Indictments For Palm Beach County Admissions | Submit/Request Transcripts - Palm Beach State College 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 . : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. We will temporarily accept (due to COVID-19) clear copies of your high school diploma She was not named in the indictment. Please note that Palm Beach State College will only accept original educational records 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.. : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal . 99 N.E. Officials are trying to track down nurses with fake degrees from Fla Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. To be evaluated, all required transcripts need to be submitted from all institutions 25 Arrested and Charged in Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Scheme - People AICE, AP, IB, or CLEP Please submit these transcripts electronically to, Institutional Research & Effectiveness (IRE), online request for Florida GED Transcript, palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/credit-by-exam, Please request that transcripts be submitted electronically via, Transcripts can be sent via Secure PDF directly from the issuing institution school 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.. : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. Our mission is to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system. a course-by-course commercial evaluation completed by an approved agency. 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. NOTICE: Under Florida law, email addresses are public record. 2023 Emerald X, LLC. A copy of your driver license, state ID, or other form of photo identification showing your name, date of birth and signature is required. Lock need The other 10 charged were listed as recruiters, including seven from New Jersey or New York. There are additional handling fees for paper transcripts. Closed Palm Beach School of Nursing linked to federal arrests in 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. FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these cases. Request in PersonIn person requests are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY - to view the calendar for times/dates available and to schedule your visit. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough, FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Omar Perez Aybar, HHS-OIG, made the announcement. U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no. Federal Enforcement on Falsifying Thousands of Nursing Credentials To be considered for a credit evaluation, applicants must have Florida nursing schools are caught selling 7,600 fake diplomas the issuing institution. The School District of Palm Beach County Records Management 3300 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite B-201 West Palm Beach, FL 33406-5870 Email: recordsmanagement@palmbeachschools.org Phone: (561) 434-8550 Fax: (561) 434-8660 Out of State Public Schools and Private Schools Transcripts can be sent via Secure PDF directly from the school official to Admissions also accept certified copies of the documents. : 23-60013-Cr-Moreno. Florida nursing schools sold thousands of fake diplomas totaling $100M Santaluces Community High / Homepage - School District of Palm Beach County : 23-60013-Cr-Moreno. "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. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. Napoleon already pleaded guilty to wire and health care fraud charges, the DOJ said. Napoleon was previously charged by information and has pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as wire fraud (case nos. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Sacred Heart International Institute, U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no. 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. 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. U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. 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. "I like to help people," said Brown, who concealed her face and didn't want to give her real name. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. This school offers training in 4 qualifications, with the most reviewed qualifications being Registered Nurse , C.N.A. 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. Twenty-five people have been charged in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses at three now-closed schools, including the Palm Beach School of Nursing, federal prosecutors said Wednesday afternoon. Prez said investigators have not found, however, that any of the nurses caused harm to patients. Related: HHS: Insiders Pose Significant Cybersecurity Threat to Healthcare. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Note: Transcripts need to show a graduation date to be considered complete and official. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states, 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. Transcripts can be sent via secure PDF directly from the issuing institution to Admissions 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. What If My Nursing School Isnt Accredited? HHS: Insiders Pose Significant Cybersecurity Threat to Healthcare, Patients Sue Prince Georges Hospital After OB-GYN Faked Identity, 5 Ways Tech Can Help Patients Feel Safer in Your Healthcare Facility, Ex Hospital Respiratory Therapist Jennifer Hall Pleads Guilty in Deaths of 2 Patients, FBI 2022 Active Shooter Stats: Last Year U.S. Had Fewer Incidents but More Casualties. This case is being prosecuted in conjunction with a related criminal matter in the District of Maryland. 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). Napoleon was previously charged by information and has pled guilty to conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, as well as wire fraud (case nos. The U.S. Department of Justice announced . Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. The overall scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued at a cost of about $114 million. MIAMI Twenty-five people have been charged in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal licensing and employment shortcut for aspiring nurses at three now-closed schools, including the Palm Beach School of Nursing, federal prosecutors said Wednesday afternoon. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. The College will How Do I Get Transcripts from a Nursing School That Has Closed? There are two categories of defendants. Lapointe added that "a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.". RegisteredNursing.org does not guarantee the accuracy or results of any of this information. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. 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. President and Employee of Ft. Lauderdale Business Indicted for 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.. From Nov. 2020 to July 2021, Charles Etienne, owner of Sacred Heart International Institute, and two others provided purchasers with 588 fake diplomas and transcripts. Napoleon received largepayments for providing the fake diplomas, in one case taking in a $30,000 wire transfer from a co-defendant in 2021. All rights reserved. 2023 Registered Nursing.org All Rights Reserved | About | Privacy | Terms | Contact Us. According to the charging documents, Palm Beach School of Nursings objective was to prepare students to meet Floridas licensing and nursing board requirements and become eligible to take the national licensing exam in order to work as registered nurses. Practical Nursing Program Specific Requirements 1. 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). minutes, too. Documentation of successful completion of post-secondary. 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. 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. 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. Core Values Christ-centered DOJ accuses former nursing school operators of selling fraudulent South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. When a school closes, they are required to select a permanent custodian of their records for later retrieval. 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). "What do we learn when somebody gets injured? Transcripts must be ordered online through services provided by Credentials Solutions An affidavit said about 175 graduates of the Virginia nursing school applied to the Maryland Board of Nursing, with 62 licensed practical nurses actively working in Maryland. It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an LPN/VN. Student and Staff Safety: Addressing the Significant Rise in Mental Health Needs and Violence, Beyond Threat Assessment: Managing Threats with Appropriate Follow-up, Monitoring & Training, Mental Health in America: Test Your Awareness with This Quiz, Test Your Hospital Safety and Security Knowledge with These 9 Questions, IS-800 D National Response Framework Exam Questions. "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. The copies will need to be certified The other group included owners, operators and employees of nursing schools to fake diplomas and transcripts. Palm Beach State College prefers that transcripts be submitted electronically from Email Us. This discussion will help participants analyze, understand, and assess their own program effectiveness. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Siena College. What Happens When a Nurse Has a Substance Abuse Problem? Your email address will not be published. One nurse worked at a Veterans Affairs-run home. Defendants in each case face wire fraud-related charges. The nursing applicants used the fake diplomas and transcripts they purchased from the owner and employees of Palm Beach School of Nursing to obtain RN or LPN/VN licenses in various states and nursing jobs with unwitting health care providers throughout the country. : 23-60010-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Etienne, case no. 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. Nurses certified in New York are allowed to practice in Florida and many other states. attended. Tags Health News Florida nurse nursing school fraud arrest Broward County 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. 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. The indictment alleges that Witherspoon, Sellu, and Bernadelsolicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an RN or LPN/VN. of International Admissions at international@palmbeachstate.edu. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida, Fraudulent Nursing Diploma Scheme Leads to Federal Charges Against 25 Defendants, South Florida Marketer Sentenced to Prison Term for Buying and Selling Over 2.6 Million Medicare Beneficiary Identification Numbers, South Florida Marketer Pleads Guilty to Role in Scheme Involving Purchase and Sale of Millions of Medicare Beneficiary Identification Numbers, Ardid de Estafa de Diploma de Enfermera Conduce a la Detencin de Ms de Dos Docenas de Acusados. The school was licensed with the Florida Board of. For more information visit palmbeachstate.edu/international. The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. 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. Many of those people may lose their certification but likely won't be criminally charged, federal officials said. Have a question about Government Services? The defendants each face up to 20 years in prison. Students should download and print theHome Education Graduation Affidavit form. Closed Palm Beach School of Nursing linked to federal arrests in diploma scheme, Tornado that tore through Palm Beach Gardens had winds of at least 100 mph, Trees toppled, homes damaged, cars overturned in tornado, Tornado tosses boat from cove onto lawn in North Palm Beach, Unofficial Boca Bash to draw thousands of boaters Sunday, Cleanup underway after tornado rips through North Palm Beach neighborhood, Verhaeghe scores in OT as Panthers eliminate Bruins from playoffs, Butler, Heat start semifinals with 108-101 win over Knicks, National Weather Service upgrades tornado to EF2 with peak winds of 130 mph. Brown, along with several students, left the program when they realized it was a scam. 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. 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. With the help of the fake degrees the nurses found jobs at nursing homes that took in Medicare and Medicaid-eligible patients. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. to request a transcript. "It's a monster.". 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. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PALM BEACH COUNTY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) / RECORDS MANAGEMENT. 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. 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. program application deadline to ensure timely review. FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these cases. 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. hide caption. 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. Student Speaks Out After Palm Beach School of Nursing Busted for These schools are now closed. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. : 23-60012-Cr-Singhal. 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. Phone: 850-245-0509 Below is a list of schools that the Commission has some records for or has information on where the records are maintained. The indictment alleges that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an RN or LPN/VN. The 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. Some schools will accept notarized copies of your own documents along with "proof" of the school's destruction. directly). The seven nurses used the diplomas to become licensed nurses in Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. When it was dissolved in 2020, the address w 1110 Sixth Ave. S. in Lake Worth Beach. 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 . 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. The Florida Board of Nursing requires a criminal background check for all applicants seeking licensure.
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