Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a faster rate than all occupations from 2016 through 2019. With this projected growth and need for well-trained nurses, no one suspected that scurrilous nursing school operators would be key players in encouraging individuals to seek alternate routes to obtain nursing degrees. It is unthinkable that Nursing School Operators would encourage anything but the conventional manner of studying nursing or would be named among those that tarnish the reputation and esteem of one of the most respected professions for financial gain.
Allegations
Unfortunately, the healthcare industry, the public and the great profession of Nursing suffered a blackeye when indictments came down with allegations that Siena Education Center aka Sienna College of Health, Sacred Heart International Institute, and Palm Beach School of Nursing were key players in a fraudulent Diploma Scheme.
On January 25, 2023, the United States Office of The Southern District of Florida in it press release indicated Sacred Heart International Institute operators were charged and reported:
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, N.Y.; and Nadege Auguste of Broward County with conspiring to and committing wire fraud. It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an LPN/VN. These recruiters then arranged with Charles Etienne, Sacred Heart’s 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. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Etienne is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Sienna College Operators were also indicted with reports that:
Stanton Witherspoon of Burlington County N.J.; Alfred Sellu of Burlington County N.J.; and Rene Bernadel of Westchester County, N.Y. with conspiring to commit and committing wire fraud. 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. 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. These fake documents represented that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Siena College’s nursing program in Broward County and completed the necessary courses and clinicals to obtain RN or LPN/VN diplomas. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals.
Palm Beach School of Nursing Operators were also indicted and the Press release states:
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. The indictment alleges that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an RN or LPN/VN. It is alleged that these recruiter defendants then arranged with Palm Beach School of Nursing’s owner Johanah Napoleon and school employees Gail Russ, Cheryl Stanley, Krystal Lopez, and Ricky Riley to create and distribute false and fraudulent diplomas and transcripts representing that the aspiring RN and LPN/VN candidates had attended Palm Beach School of Nursing and completed the necessary courses and clinicals to obtain RN or LPN/VN diplomas. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals.
How are Nurses Affected
The nursing school operators were indicted as a result of Operation Nightingale, a federal investigation that exposed a fraudulent scheme involving three Florida nursing schools that sold fake diplomas and transcripts to thousands of people who wanted to become nurses. The Florida Board of Nursing was alerted by a state audit that revealed low passing rates for the national nursing exam among the students who attended these schools. The board cooperated with the authorities to identify and revoke the licenses of those who obtained their licenses with false credentials. The scheme not only defrauded the aspiring nurses, but also endangered public health and safety by allowing unqualified individuals to work as nurses. The sad reality is not all students who attended these schools were part of the fraudulent scheme. Unbeknownst to unsuspecting Nursing students, their schools were fraudulently acting as Nursing Diploma Mills to individuals who did not complete the necessary courses and clinicals. Innocent nurses are now forced to defend themselves against allegations that they may have participated in a diploma scheme they knew nothing about.
What Should Innocent Nurses Do
It’s imperative that nurses who are wrongly accused of violations of Chapter 46 Florida Statutes, the Nurse Practice Act, of fraudulent misrepresentation; and obtaining license through Fraud or Error, Failure to Perform Legal Obligation, Deceptive or Fraudulent Representation seek the representation of a qualified Nurse Attorney as Attorney Bryan Farr who will competently represent you before the Florida Board of Nursing. It is unwise to speak to investigators alone. Your license matters! Speak with Attorney Bryan Farr who understands curriculum standards, has significant practice in the field of nursing and can help you navigate the charges against you.
Your nursing license is a privilege, and you should not allow the hard work and sacrifice to become a Licensed Practical Nurse, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner be taken away. You have a right to defend yourself.