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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, said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, who added that a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.. make copies and return original documents to applicants in person. Postsecondary Career & Technical Education (CTE) Transcript Request, Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). all right, chris, thank you. All rights reserved. There is a $25.00 non-refundable fee for each duplicate diploma requested. 2023 Registered Nursing.org All Rights Reserved | About | Privacy | Terms | Contact Us. 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.". : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal . "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 said Wednesday. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts fromSacred Heart International Institute, U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no. Students applying to a Limited Access Program (Nursing, Fire Science, EMT, Etc.) 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 be evaluated, all required transcripts need to be submitted from all institutions In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. directly). Students should contact the Department of Education in the state the GED was earned (payment by credit card only). Photo: google. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and two children. Napoleon already pleaded guilty to wire and health care fraud charges, the DOJ said. U.S. Attorneys Office To order a high school transcript electronically, visitParchment. The school was licensed with the Florida Board of Nursing but it was terminated in 2017 due to low passing rates on the state certification exam. The news stunned Brown, but she said she always thought something was a little sketchy about her online degree program. 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. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Nurses certified in New York are allowed to practice in Florida and many other states. : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. Fourteen of those charged are linked to the Palm Beach County school. official to Admissions at. The school was licensed with the Florida Board of. 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. Individuals bought their fake nursing credentials for up to $15,000. All schools are now defunct. hide transcript show transcript. 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.. palm beach school of nursing is located in West Palm Beach, FL, but also offers classes online. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. 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). 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. Transcripts need to show a graduation date to be considered complete and official. 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. There are two categories of defendants. 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith). It is alleged that these recruiter defendants then arranged with Palm Beach School of Nursings 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. Southern District of Florida 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 . A current 2023 Emerald X, LLC. Stop the bleeding. The school was licensed with the Florida Board of Nursing but it was terminated in 2017 due to low passing rates on the state certification exam. BSO Deputy Hospitalized After Multi-Vehicle Crash in Deerfield Beach, Police Investigate Separate Car Thefts in Miami, Broward, Tornado Touched Down in Palm Beach Gardens Leaving Destruction in Its Wake. The diploma and transcripts arrived less than two weeks later from Palm Beach School of Nursing, showing a 3.4 grade point average. To report waste, fraud, corruption, or abuse, please call the Inspector General Hotline: (855) 561-1010. 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. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Some of those who purchased degrees were from South Florida's Haitian-American community, including some with legitimate LPN licenses who wanted to become registered nurses, the Miami Herald reported. "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. She was not named in the indictment. at admissions@palmbeachstate.edu. D.A. First, create an account, then place the order. The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. Transcripts should be complete showing all final grades and final graduation date. The indictment charges 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. 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. It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an LPN/VN. at transcriptevaluation@palmbeachstate.edu. 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. The other 10 charged were listed as recruiters, including seven from New Jersey or New York. Transcripts can be sent via secure PDF directly from the issuing institution to Admissions Diplomas are not accepted as proof of high school completion or in place of transcripts. High School transcripts can be sent via secure PDF from the issuing institution to Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. Mailing address to submit official sealed transcripts: Palm Beach State College 4200 Congress Avenue, MS#13Lake Worth, FL 33461, Start of Top Menu - Press Esc key to Close. U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no. 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. to request a transcript. States is optional. The Palm Beach County school, which operated on 2695 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach, offered an Associate in Science degree. Health care fraud is nothing new to South Florida, as many scammers see this as a way to earn easy, though illegal, money, said acting Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough, FBI Miami. minutes, too. 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, recruiting, and criminal activity to hand out fake nursing diplomas and transcripts. If you attended a school that was destroyed in a natural disaster or by other unexpected means and credentials were not digitally stored outside of the institution, speak with the Registrar at your prospective school for guidance. 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. The indictment charges defendants 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. Our mission is to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system. Crimes such as these unfortunately continue to spring up, especially in this area. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. Latest posts by Amanda Bucceri Androus, RN, BSN. Register today to attend this free webcast! "What do we learn when somebody gets injured? Official websites use .gov ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. 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. We are an A-rated School District with 335 Choice & Career Programs. It is alleged that these recruiter defendants then arranged with Palm Beach School of Nursings 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. PLEASE NOTE: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only. Students shouldcomplete anonline request for Florida GED Transcript. No students were named in the indictments. More than 7,600 fake nursing diplomas were issued by the three nursing schools since 2016 at $15,000 each, netting them more than $114 million. 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, said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, who added that a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.. or transfer students, to submit all official academic transcripts from every high What If My Nursing School Isnt Accredited? EunideSanon managed Siena College. 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. 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. school or college/university attended. Palm Beach State College prefers that transcripts be submitted electronically. This case is being prosecuted in conjunction with a related criminal matter in the District of Maryland. 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. This school offers training in 4 qualifications, with the most reviewed qualifications being Registered Nurse , C.N.A. Lois M. Gackenheimer Richards, PhD Ed, MSN, RN. Please note that Palm Beach State College will only accept original educational records hide caption. Required fields are marked *. Fax Line: (305) 530-7679. Out of State Public Schools and Private Schools Transcripts can be sent via Secure PDF directly from the school official to Admissions The other 10 charged were listed as recruiters, including seven from New Jersey or New York. Ten people helped recruit people looking to obtain fake degrees. : 23-60005-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Sanon, case no. 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture. Online tracking is available 24/7. If you do not want your email addresses released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. She said a normal nursing school program lasts 22 months and can equate to four years at a large university. Now theyve filed complaints with their state attorneys to try and see how they can get their money back. a course-by-course commercial evaluation completed by an approved agency. Three Florida nursing schools soldthousands of fake nursing diplomas worth millions in a scheme that allowed aspiring nurses to bypass the required training to become licensed in the profession, federal prosecutors alleged Thursday. She said a normal nursing school program lasts 22 months and can equate to four years at a large university. USAFLS.News@usdoj.gov, Southern District of Florida Varela/Miami Herald via AP : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. Practical Nursing Program Description don@palmbeachintcollege.com Associate Of Science In Nursing Degree Program (ASN) 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. Fourteen of those charged are linked to the Palm Beach County school. Submit & Share. These schools are now closed. "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. This case is being prosecuted in conjunction with a related criminal matter in the District of Maryland. What To Do When Your School No Longer Physically Exists, Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Programs (AGNP), Womens Health Nurse Practitioner Programs, Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN), How Nurses Can Promote Vaccines Without Promoting Vaccines, CDC Estimates of Nurse & Healthcare Worker COVID-19 Cases Are Likely Understated, How Nurses Are Keeping Up With Practice Agreement Changes During COVID-19. A lock ( A locked padlock U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. Out of State Public Universities and Colleges. The schools involved Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute are now closed. 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. Email Us. This discussion will help participants analyze, understand, and assess their own program effectiveness. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. The indictment charges 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. With the help of the fake degrees the nurses found jobs at nursing homes that took in Medicare and Medicaid-eligible patients. Promote excellence in nursing by enabling future and current nurses with the education and employment resources they need to succeed. Take a Look, Police Reunite Parents With Toddler Found Wandering in Miramar, A Toxic Plant Was Removed From a Miami Park. 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. : 23-60007-Cr-Singhal. 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. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, Public Affairs Unit 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. According to the charging documents, Palm Beach School of Nursings objective was to prepare students to meet Floridas licensing and nursing board requirements and become eligible to take the national licensing exam in order to work as registered nurses. Lapointe added that "a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.". Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing. 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. When Lucy Brown signed up for the Palm Beach School of Nursing, she thought she made the right choice. "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. 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. Lock Fraudulent degrees qualified recipients to take the national nursing board exam. U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. Napoleon received largepayments for providing the fake diplomas, in one case taking in a $30,000 wire transfer from a co-defendant in 2021. submitted as .pdf attachments. One nurse worked at a Veterans Affairs-run home. Telephone or Fax requests will not be honored. 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. To be considered for a credit evaluation, applicants must have 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,. "What do we learn when somebody gets injured? Defendants sold fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses, according to three recently unsealed indictments returned by a South Florida federal grand jury on Jan. 12 and information filed by federal prosecutors. When it was dissolved in 2020, the address w 1110 Sixth Ave. S. in Lake Worth Beach. The defendants each face up to 20 years in prison. Core Values Christ-centered Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts fromSiena College. 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. A credit card is needed for theeTranscriptfee, which is $5.90. 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 . The students paid a total of $114 million for the fake degrees between 2016 and 2021, the newspaper reported. Sign up for NBC South Florida newsletters. When a school closes, they are required to select a permanent custodian of their records for later retrieval. West Palm Beach, FL 33417. According to the charging documents, Palm Beach School of Nursings objective was to prepare students to meet Floridas licensing and nursing board requirements and become eligible to take the national licensing exam in order to work as registered nurses. Our Platform. These schools are now closed. : 23-60010-Cr-Smith, U.S. v. Etienne, case no. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. Transcripts should be complete showing all final grades and if applicable graduation Main Office: She began her career working night shifts on a pediatric/ med-surg unit for six years, later transferring to a telemetry unit where she worked for four more years. What Happens When a Nurse Has a Substance Abuse Problem? Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts from Siena College. 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. Exams were taken in Florida, New York, New Jersey and Texas. Krystal Lopez of Palm Beach County. Up to 7,600 fraudulent diplomas were sold at $15,000 each, authorities said. 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 $100 million or roughly $15,000 per diploma, federal prosecutors said. NOTICE: Under Florida law, email addresses are public record. also accept certified copies of the documents. 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. 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. 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). There are additional handling fees for paper transcripts. Sacred Heart International Institute. According to the court documents, 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. 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.