The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday that 20 defendants have either pleaded guilty or been convicted in U.S. District Court in South Florida for their involvement in a wire fraud scheme. This scheme was designed to establish an unlawful shortcut for aspiring nurses to obtain licenses and employment.
Referred to as “Operation Nightingale,” this initiative targeted residents of Florida, as well as individuals from other states. It revolved around the sale of counterfeit nursing degree diplomas and transcripts acquired from accredited nursing schools in Florida to individuals aspiring to become registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses.
The fraudulent diplomas and transcripts enabled purchasers to qualify for the national nursing board exam. Once they passed this exam, they could acquire licenses and secure nursing positions in various states as either RNs or LPN/VNs.
The overall operation involved the distribution of over 7,600 fake nursing diplomas issued by three South Florida-based nursing schools: Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County, Siena College in Broward County, and Sacred Heart International Institute in Broward County. All three of these educational institutions have since closed following the investigation.
The Department of Justice stated that nursing applicants utilized these counterfeit diplomas to obtain RN or LPN/VN licenses in different states and secure nursing jobs, all while healthcare providers remained unaware of the scheme.
The following individuals have pleaded guilty or been convicted for their involvement in the fraudulent nursing diploma scheme:
Defendants associated with fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts from Palm Beach School of Nursing:
- Krystal Lopez of Palm Beach County pleaded guilty on May 10 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14.
- Damian Lopez of Palm Beach County pleaded guilty on May 10 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14.
- Francois Legagneur of Nassau County, New York, pleaded guilty on May 10 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13.
- Reynoso Seide of Union County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on May 10 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced on September 19 to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
- Yelva Saint Preux of Suffolk County, New York, pleaded guilty on May 10 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14.
Additionally, Johanah Napoleon, the owner of Palm Beach School of Nursing, pleaded guilty on November 21, 2022, to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was sentenced on July 18 to 21 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit $3.2 million.
Defendants associated with fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts from Siena College:
- Stanton Witherspoon of Burlington County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on August 24 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2.
- Alfred Sellu of Burlington County, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on August 18 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2.
- Rene Bernadel of Westchester County, New York, pleaded guilty on August 24 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2.
- Eunide Sanon of Fort Lauderdale pleaded guilty on March 14 to an information charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was sentenced on May 23 to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $1,287,633.
Defendants associated with fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts from Sacred Heart International Institute:
- Rhomy Louis of Suffolk County, New York, pleaded guilty on September 15 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28.
- Simon Itaman of Harris County, Texas, pleaded guilty on September 15 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28.
- Anna Itaman of Harris County, Texas, pleaded guilty on September 15 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28.
- Serge Jean of Harris County, Texas, pleaded guilty on September 15 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28.
- Ludnie Jean of Harris County, Texas, pleaded guilty on September 15 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28.
- Cimoyne Alves of Lincoln, Rhode Island, pleaded guilty on August 18 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2023.
- Charles Etienne of Lake Worth pleaded guilty on April 11 to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2023.
- Nadege Auguste of Coral Springs, Florida, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on September 28 and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2024.
Defendants associated with fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts through PowerfulU Healthcare Services LLC:
- Geralda Adrien of Fort Lauderdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. She was sentenced on August 10, 2022, to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $3,309,000.
- Woosevelt Predestin of Fort Lauderdale pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. He was sentenced on August 10, 2022, to 27 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to forfeit $3,309,000.
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