program application deadline to ensure timely review. 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. Etienne is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. : 23-60005-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Sanon, case no. About 2,400 of the 7,600 students eventually passed their licensing exams mainly in New York, federal officials said. The bleeding here is to stop those schools from being able to put more fraudulent diplomas out in the public sphere.". (payment by credit card only). Photo: google. 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. 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. U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no. Some schools will accept notarized copies of your own documents along with "proof" of the school's destruction. 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. 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. Promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. PBSD 1457 (Rev. PLEASE NOTE: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only. 4th Street Sacred Heart International Institute. Lois M. Gackenheimer Richards, PhD Ed, MSN, RN. 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. The diploma and transcripts arrived less than two weeks later from Palm Beach School of Nursing, showing a 3.4 grade point average. These fake documents represented that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Siena Colleges nursing program in Broward County and completed the necessary courses and clinicals to obtain RN or 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. : 23-60010-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Etienne, case no. The bogus diplomas and transcripts qualified purchasers 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. 99 N.E. Documentation of successful completion of post-secondary. NBC 6's Xochitl Hernandez has more on what the student had to say in an interview you'll see Only on 6. This case is being prosecuted in conjunction with a related criminal matter in the District of Maryland. No students were named in the indictments. Exams were taken in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Texas. Crimes such as these unfortunately continue to spring up, especially in this area. Siena College, the Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute allegedly handed out more than 7,600 fake diplomas between 2016 and 2021. The overall scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools, Miami, Florida 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. 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 . Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. From about Nov. 2018 to Oct. 2021, Sanon allegedly sold 2,016 fake diplomas and transcripts that falsely purported that recipients had completed the necessary courses and training at Siena College to obtain such degrees when they never had, according to the criminal complaint. Request in PersonIn person requests are BY APPOINTMENT ONLY - to view the calendar for times/dates available and to schedule your visit. all right, chris, thank you. South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an LPN/VN. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and two children. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. For more information visit palmbeachstate.edu/international. 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. The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. such as Joseph Silny and Associates, Inc. or World Education Services can be accessed Main Office: A credit card is needed for theeTranscriptfee, which is $5.90. When it was dissolved in 2020, the address w 1110 Sixth Ave. S. in Lake Worth Beach. Our mission is to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system. She was not named in the indictment. by either the U.S. Consulate or the Ministry of Education in the applicants country. Now Brown is left wondering about all the money she spent and whether or not she can get it all back. When a school closes, they are required to select a permanent custodian of their records for later retrieval. MIAMI Federal authorities in Florida have charged 25 people with participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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.. The School of Nursing prepares professional, competent nurses who are reflective, inquiring, able to apply nursing theory, processes and technical nursing skills within the context of the Christian worldview, while recognizing the global, pluralistic nature of society. The schools involved Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute are now closed. 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. Transcripts can be sent via secure PDF directly from the issuing institution to Admissions A copy of your driver license, state ID, or other form of photo identification showing your name, date of birth and signature is required. The Florida Board of Nursing requires a criminal background check for all applicants seeking licensure. Transcripts should be complete showing all final grades and final graduation date. It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an LPN/VN. : 23-60005-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Sanon, case no. EunideSanon managed Siena College. "Nothing, nothing. Miami, Fl. All trademarks are the property of their respective trademark holders. 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. About 7,600 students paid an average of $15,000 for bogus diplomas, according to prosecutors. 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). a course-by-course commercial evaluation completed by an approved agency. Practical Nursing Program Description don@palmbeachintcollege.com Associate Of Science In Nursing Degree Program (ASN) The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. "It's a monster.". The news stunned Brown, but she said she always thought something was a little sketchy about her online degree program. Investigators said about a third of the people actually are practicing medicine. High School transcripts can be sent via secure PDF from the issuing institution to Students should contact the Department of Education in the state the GED was earned ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. 2018 School Referendum (Expiring 6/30/2023), African, African American, Latino, Holocaust, and Gender Studies, Elementary, Middle and High School Subject Areas, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages), Implementation Plan for Required Instruction, Instructional Materials (Textbook) Adoption, International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs, McKinney-Vento Program (MVP) - Homelessness, Physical Education and Health (Elementary Schools), Physical Education, Health and Drivers Ed (Middle and High Schools), Reproductive Health and Disease Education, School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR), Student Internship and Volunteer Opportunities, 2021-2022 School Grades and School Improvement Ratings, Certification - Military Veterans Pathway, Fingerprint/ Background Check/ Drug Testing, Compensation and Employee Information Services, Deputy Superintendent and Chief of Schools, Multicultural Education and Migrant Education Programs (MEP), (Diversity) Small, Minority and Women-Owned - Vendors/Suppliers, Coordinated Planning Agencies - Vendors / Suppliers, Link to Student Transcript / Records Request, Student Transcript / Records Request PBSD 1457. Online tracking is available 24/7. of International Admissions at international@palmbeachstate.edu. 33132, Telephone: (305) 961-9001 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. NOTICE: Under Florida law, email addresses are public record. The charges speak to the purpose of a nursing license which is to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies. palm beach school of nursing is located in West Palm Beach, FL, but also offers classes online. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida atwww.flsd.uscourts.govor athttp://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century. Siena College was a school in Broward County, Florida that was licensed by the states board of nursing and its independent education commission to offer practical nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. 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. 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. The School District of Palm Beach County serves more than 189,000 students who speak 150 languages and dialects. Email Us. Miami, Florida - Today, a Miami federal grand jury returned an indictment charging two Lauderhill residents for their roles in a fraud conspiracy that sold fake nursing degrees to people who had not completed the required nursing coursework or clinicals. The indictment alleges that Witherspoon, Sellu, and Bernadelsolicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an RN or LPN/VN. We encourage our customers to save time and take advantage of online services by going to Parchment. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Napoleon already pleaded guilty to wire and health care fraud charges, the DOJ said. Florida Public High Schools and Charter schools Please request that transcripts be submitted electronically via FASTER. 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," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said in Miami, adding that "a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.". FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these cases. The U.S. Department of Justice announced . Currently, all schools are obligated to maintain transcript records indefinitely. There are two categories of defendants. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. This school offers training in 4 qualifications, with the most reviewed qualifications being Registered Nurse , C.N.A. West Palm Beach, FL 33417. A lock ( D.A. 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. "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. "Plus I paid the plane fare, hotel, so roughly $25,000.". Mailed RequestsRequests submitted via mail/fax must include the following information: Link to Student Transcript / Records Request PBSD 1457, Requests may be mailed or faxed to the following address:The School District of Palm Beach CountyRecords Management3300 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite B-201West Palm Beach, FL 33406-5870Email:recordsmanagement@palmbeachschools.orgPhone: (561) 434-8550Fax: (561) 434-8660. 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. "Tuition, I paid $16,000, not to mention I had to pay $99 to sit the exam," Brown said. 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith). 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. To report waste, fraud, corruption, or abuse, please call the Inspector General Hotline: (855) 561-1010. Have a question about Government Services? A locked padlock The charging documents describe Siena College as a Broward County school licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education and the Florida Board of Nursing that offers a Practical Nursing Program and an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. "I see it as rewarding.". 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. Your email address will not be published. Diplomas are not accepted as proof of high school completion or in place of transcripts. Individuals with prior criminal circumstances on their background check may not be eligible for licensure or employment. 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. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states,. or transfer students, to submit all official academic transcripts from every high U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Etienne is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 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. 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," U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said in Miami, adding that "a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.". The bogus diplomas and transcripts qualified purchasers 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. Request for Student Records. This discussion will help participants analyze, understand, and assess their own program effectiveness. Recruiters would bring "students" from other states to get the "shortcut" documents from the South Florida school. All schools are now defunct. "I like to help people," said Brown, who concealed her face and didn't want to give her real name. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. 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. Prosecutors said the scheme also involved transcripts from the nursing schools for people seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses. "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, FBI Miami, said. Prior to 2010, schools were only obligated to maintain records for five years (for certificate and non-degree granting programs) or 50 years if the school granted degrees. We will temporarily accept (due to COVID-19) clear copies of your high school diploma 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. list of approved agencies is located at www.NACES.org/members (Applications for agencies The overall scheme involved the distribution of more than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools: Siena College in Broward County, Fla., Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Fla., and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County. at admissions@palmbeachstate.edu. The American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) can also assist former students in locating information related to offsite storage of transcripts for schools that are no longer standing. 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. need Court documents show that in 2021, an undercover FBI employee went into an office in Fort Lauderdale and was offered an associate's degree in the science of nursing for $16,000. Postsecondary Career & Technical Education (CTE) Transcript Request, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). 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. admissions@palmbeachstate.edu. Tags Health News Florida nurse nursing school fraud arrest Broward County to ensure that transcripts are submitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the specific Fraudulent degrees qualified recipients to take the national nursing board exam. 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. Many of those people may lose their certification but likely won't be criminally charged, federal officials said. 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. 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. 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 . What Happens When a Nurse Has a Substance Abuse Problem? Palm Beach State College prefers that transcripts be submitted electronically. She was not named in the indictment. The Department of Justice along with the Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General carried out the investigation, dubbed Operation Nightingale. But last week, federal authorities arrested 25 people and shut down the Palm Beach School of Nursing and two other colleges after investigators uncovered an elaborate web of money wiring,. Latest posts by Amanda Bucceri Androus, RN, BSN. According to authorities, the . Submission of college transcripts from postsecondary institutions outside the United 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. Palm Beach State College prefers that transcripts be submitted electronically from She currently works as a charge nurse in a busy outpatient primary care department. 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith). Executive Director / President. Transcripts must be ordered online through services provided by Credentials Solutions Your email address will not be published. make copies and return original documents to applicants in person. : 23-60012-Cr-Singhal. It is alleged that these defendants arranged with Sanon, who managed Siena College and is charged by information with wire fraud conspiracy, to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts. Out of State Public Universities and Colleges. Nurses are frustrated by months-long delays to get licensed in some states, Short-staffed and COVID-battered, U.S. hospitals are hiring more foreign nurses. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. : 23-60010-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Etienne, case no. two in broward county and the palm beach school of nursing in west palm beach. Varela/Miami Herald via AP Siena College. Carleen Health Institute of South Florida Nursing and Healthcare Programs Plantation Campus 8320 West Sunrise Blvd, Suite #204 Plantation, FL 33322 Get directions West Palm Beach Campus 4645 Gun Club Road, #11 West Palm Beach, FL 33415 (561)656-4720 Get directions Recently unsealed federal grand jury indictments allege the defendants took part in a scam that sold more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, federal officials said during a news conference in Miami on Wednesday afternoon. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. minutes, too. To be considered for a credit evaluation, applicants must have 25 people were charged wednesday . 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).

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