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"There are more than 7,600 people with false nursing degrees": a criminal network that sold credentials is dismantled in Florida

2023-01-26T04:39:15.242Z


Three nursing schools in South Florida sold thousands of false professional degrees for more than 100 million dollars, a crime for which more than twenty people have been arrested. A title, authorities say, could be bought for $15,000.


Three South Florida nursing schools sold some 7,600 fake professional degrees for more than $100 million in a scam for which more than 20 people are facing criminal charges, federal authorities said Wednesday.

For a price of

$15,000 each

, the owners and employees of these now-closed schools were selling fake nursing degrees, the Attorney General's Office for the Southern District of Florida said.

[Nearly 40% of Americans avoid going to the doctor for financial reasons.

We explain how to save on healthcare]

They also offered fraudulent transcripts that served thousands of people as "an illegal shortcut" to pass exams and "obtain licenses and jobs in various states as registered nurses and registered or vocational nurses."

The "large-scale" scam was uncovered as a result of Operation

Nightingale

, named after British nurse Florence Nightingale.

Twenty-five people residing in Florida, New York, New Jersey, Texas and Delaware have been charged with wire fraud, of whom 21 have been arrested.

The defendants can face up to 20 years in prison.

By adding more nurses and with a salary increase, they managed to end unemployment in New York

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According to the local Noticias Telemundo station in Miami, the defendants earned about $114 million from the sale of false professional titles.

The authorities estimate that these may be currently being used by 30% of the people who bought them.

How did the scam work?

The three schools that were part of the scam had the required accreditations.

They are Sacred Heart International Institute, in Fort Lauderdale;

Siena College of Health, in Lauderhill;

and Palm Beach School of Nursing, in West Palm Beach, authorities said.

The plot started from the search and recruitment of people who wanted to obtain nursing licenses to apply for jobs in that field.

The false documentation, which included certificates, diplomas and academic records, indicated that the beneficiaries had attended the mentioned schools and “completed the necessary courses and clinics” to obtain them, although in fact it was a lie.

With these fake documents, thousands of people got jobs in various states across the country, according to authorities.

"There are more than 7,600 people across the country with fraudulent credentials"

Markenzy Lapointe, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said the scam represents a health security problem that erodes public confidence in the United States health system.

“It also tarnishes the reputation of nurses who actually complete the demanding clinical work

and coursework required to obtain their professional licenses and employment,” she lamented.

Reported shortage of registered nurses in US health centers.

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Florida is a leader in scams related to the health system and these are orchestrated by people looking for "a way to make easy money," warned Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami special agent who was in charge of the operation.

“What is disturbing about this investigation is that there are more than 7,600 people across the country with fraudulent nursing credentials

potentially performing critical healthcare roles treating patients

,” he said. 

[Reported Shortage of Registered Nurses in US Health Facilities]

“Had it not been for the diligence and hard work of the investigators in this case, the extent of this fraud may not have been discovered,” the agent added.

The sale and purchase of diplomas and certificates to unqualified persons "

is a crime that potentially endangers the health and safety of patients

," said special agent Omar Pérez Aybar, from the Department's Office of the Inspector General. of Health and Human Services.

The investigation was led by this agency and by the FBI, although multiple other entities and agencies were involved.

Source: telemundo

All news articles on 2023-01-26

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