Twelve extra folks — together with eight South Florida residents — have been charged in a years-long scheme that offered hundreds of fraudulent nursing diplomas to aspiring nurses throughout the nation, federal prosecutors introduced Monday.
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The costs come practically three years after the Justice Division first revealed the large operation in January 2023. On the time, then-U.S. Lawyer for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe mentioned greater than 7,000 folks bought faux diplomas and transcripts from for-profit nursing colleges in Florida. These colleges included Siena Faculty in Lauderhill, Sacred Coronary heart Worldwide Institute in Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Seaside Faculty of Nursing in Palm Seaside County.
The counterfeit diplomas, which offered for a mean of $15,000, allowed consumers to take a seat for nationwide nursing exams with out finishing required programs or scientific coaching. Those that handed went on to qualify for licenses and, in some circumstances, nursing jobs. Federal prosecutors estimate the scheme generated about $114 million.
Within the first part of the investigation, 30 folks — together with no less than eight South Florida residents — have been charged and later convicted by plea or trial. The brand new spherical of indictments provides 12 extra defendants, with some circumstances already set for sentencing or trial. One particular person has acquired a 13-month federal jail sentence.
Amongst these charged this week are:
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Carleen Noreus, 51, of Broward County, president of Carleen Dwelling Well being Faculty, Inc. in Plantation and vice chairman of Carleen Dwelling Well being Faculty II, Inc. in West Palm Seaside. Trial begins Dec. 1.
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Patrick Buchanan, 40, of Broward County, proprietor of Sigma Institute of Well being Careers, Inc. in Lauderhill. He pleaded responsible to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and will probably be sentenced Nov. 19.
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Gilbert Hyppolite, 73, of Palm Seaside County, proprietor of Techni-Professional Institute LLC in Boca Raton. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Irene Matthews, 55, of Palm Seaside County, registered agent of Agape Academy of Sciences, LLC in Delray Seaside. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Lemuel Pierre, 56, of Broward County, proprietor of Med-Life Enterprise, Inc. in Lauderdale Lakes. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Joel Lubin, 51, of Miami-Dade County, registered agent and administrator of Best Skilled Institute, Inc. in Miami Gardens. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Jose Napoleon, 40, of Palm Seaside County, director of admissions for Azure Faculty, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Victor Escalante Zerpa, 68, of Miami-Dade County, who integrated Academus College Corp. in Coral Gables. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Stephanie Dorisca, 57, of Broward County, head of nursing at Techni-Professional Institute LLC. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
If convicted, every faces as much as 20 years in federal jail.
Federal officers beforehand mentioned about 2,400 of the greater than 7,000 consumers ultimately handed their licensing exams, most in New York. As a result of nurses licensed in New York can observe in Florida and different states, many have been capable of safe jobs regardless of missing correct coaching. Authorities have mentioned those that purchased the fraudulent diplomas are unlikely to face prison expenses.
The Justice Division stressed that the fraudulent diplomas undermined nursing licensure protections designed to maintain sufferers secure. Florida legislation requires nursing applications to dedicate no less than half of their curriculum to hands-on scientific coaching, however prosecutors say college students who purchased these diplomas by no means acquired such instruction.
