Fraudulent nursing degree scheme leads to federal charges against 25 defendants (2023)

MIAMI — More than two dozen people have been charged in the South District of Florida for their alleged participation in a wire fraud program that created illegal licensing and reduced employment for prospective nurses.

According to three recently unsealed indictment letters returned by a South Florida state grand jury and two pieces of information filed by state attorneys, the defendants engaged in a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing degrees and transcripts obtained from accredited nursing schools based there in Florida, Florida, those seeking licenses and employment as Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical/Professional Nurses (LPN/VNs) were sold.

Fake degrees and credentials qualified buyers to take the national nursing exam and, upon passing, obtain licenses and jobs in various states as RNs and LPN/VNs. The grand plan involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing degrees issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools: Siena College in Broward County, Florida, Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Florida, and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County. These schools are now closed.

Each accused faces up to 20 years in prison.

"Not only is this a public safety issue, it also tarnishes the reputation of nurses who actually complete the rigorous clinical and coursework required to maintain their professional licenses and employment," said Markenzy Lapointe, the Southern District Attorney of Florida, who added, "a fraud scheme like this undermines public confidence in our healthcare system."

Unfortunately, crimes like this happen again and again in this area.

"Healthcare fraud is nothing new in South Florida, as many scammers see it as an easy, albeit illegal, way to make money," said Chad Yarbrough, deputy special agent at the FBI Miami. “What is troubling about this investigation is that there are more than 7,600 people across the country with fraudulent nursing credentials who are in potentially critical health roles in treating patients. Without the diligence and hard work of investigators in this case, the extent of this fraud might not have been uncovered.”

Fees serve the purpose of a nursing certificate, which is intended to protect the general public from harm by establishing minimum qualifications and competencies.

"The alleged sale and purchase of nursing degrees and credentials to willing but unqualified individuals is a crime that potentially endangers the health and safety of patients and offends the honorable profession of nursing," said Special Representative Omar Pérez Aybar of the Department of Health and Human Services , Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "In coordination with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG continues to aggressively investigate bad actors who openly disregard the well-being of others for fraudulent gain."

Fees related to fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcriptsUniversity of Siena.

EUA v. Witherspoon, et al. Reference: 23-60005-Cr-Smith

EUA v. Sanon, file number: 23-60013-Cr-Moreno

Billing documents describe Siena College as a Broward County school licensed by the Florida Commission on Independent Education and the Florida Board of Nursing to offer a practical nursing program and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing RN Program. EunideSanon administered Siena College.

The indictment is indicting defendants Stanton Witherspoon of Burlington County N.J. on; Alfred Sellu of Burlington County, New Jersey; and Rene Bernadel of Westchester County, N.Y. for conspiracy to commit and commit wire fraud. The prosecution alleges that Witherspoon, Sellu and Bernadel solicited and recruited individuals seeking a Nursing Card for employment as an RN or LPN/VN. These defendants are said to have worked with Sanon, who ran Siena College and is accused of wire fraud conspiracy information, to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and certificates. These false documents showed that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN applicants attended the nursing program at Siena College in Broward County and completed the necessary courses and clinical exams to receive the RN or LPN/VN degrees. In fact, prospective nurses never completed the required courses and clinics.

Information against Sanon alleges that he and others sold thousands of fake Siena College nursing degrees and training certificates to nursing candidates, which they used to obtain RN or LPN/VN licenses in various states and grant nursing positions to healthcare volunteers across the country receive.

Charges related to fraudulent Palm Beach School of Nursing nursing records and diplomas.

UNS. v. Russ, et al., Case No.: 23-60007-Cr-Singhal

According to billing records, the purpose of the Palm Beach School of Nursing was to prepare students to meet Florida licensure and nursing requirements and become eligible to sit the national licensure exam to work as a registered nurse.

Prosecutors are charging Broward County resident Gail Russ; Cheryl Stanley of Collier County, Florida; 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, New York; Reynoso Silk from Union County, New Jersey; Cassandre Jean of Palm Beach County; Yelva Saint Preux of Suffolk County, New York; Evangeline Naissant of Nassau County, New York; Rony Michel of Monmouth County, New Jersey; Vilaire Duroseau of Essex County, New Jersey; and Yvrose Thermitus, also known as "Yvrose Thompson," of Union County, N.J., on conspiracy to commit and commit wire fraud. The indictment alleges that these defendants recruited and recruited individuals seeking a nursing license in order to obtain employment as an RN or LPN/VN.

It is alleged that these recruiting defendants then conspired with Palm Beach School of Nursing owner Johanah Napoleon and school officials Gail Russ, Cheryl Stanley, Krystal Lopez and Ricky Riley to create false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts and that represent that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN applicants have attended the Palm Beach School of Nursing and completed the required courses and clinical exams to earn the RN or LPN/VN degrees. In fact, prospective nurses never completed the required courses and clinics.

Nursing candidates used the fake diplomas and credentials they purchased from the Palm Beach School of Nursing owner and staff to obtain multi-state RN or LPN/VN licenses and nursing jobs with involuntary healthcare providers across the country. Napoleon was previously charged with information and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health fraud and wire fraud and wire fraud (cases #22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith).

Fees related to fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcriptsInternational Institute of the Sacred Heart

USA v. Jean, et al., case number: 23-60010-Cr-Smith

United States v. Etienne, case no.: 23-60012-Cr-Singhal

According to accounting documents, Sacred Heart International Institute was a Florida Board of Nursing-licensed school in Broward County that offered a nursing program aimed at preparing students for employment as practical nurses.

The prosecution alleges 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, New York; and Nadege Auguste of Broward County for conspiracy and wire fraud. These defendants are accused of soliciting and soliciting individuals seeking nursing credentials in order to obtain employment as LPN/VN. These recruiters then colluded with Charles Etienne, owner of Sacred Heart, to create and distribute false and fraudulent credentials and diplomas showing that aspiring candidates attended Sacred Heart and completed the necessary courses and clinical exams to earn the LPN/VN to obtain degrees. In fact, prospective nurses never completed the required courses and clinics. Etienne is accused of conspiracy to wire fraud.

Nursing candidates used the fake degrees and credentials they purchased from Sacred Heart to obtain multi-state LPN/VN licenses and nursing jobs with involuntary healthcare providers across the country.

US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe; Deputy Special Agent Chad Yarbrough, FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Omar Perez Aybar, HHS-OIG, made the announcement.

FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these cases. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Miami Field Office; US Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of the Inspector General; United States Postal Inspection, Miami; and Attorney General of the Florida-Florida Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Mid-Atlantic Field Office. Assistant US Attorney Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting this case and Assistant US Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling the forfeiture. This case is being pursued in connection with a related criminal matter in the County of Maryland.

For court documents and related information, visit the District Court for the Southern District of Florida's website atwww.flsd.uscourts.govor inhttp://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov

Click here to access billing records.

23-CR-60005

23-CR-60007

23-CR-60010

23-CR-60012

23-CR-60013