Federal agents dismantle $250 million fake nursing diploma ring targeting Haitian community
U.S. authorities have broken up a nationwide scheme that sold fraudulent nursing diplomas, generating $250 million from about 15,000 buyers, many of whom entered the health-care workforce.
Federal investigators, led by Special Agent Isaac Bledsoe, dismantled a $250 million fraud that sold counterfeit nursing diplomas to roughly 15,000 people, many from Haitian immigrant networks in South Florida. The racket operated through brokers like Geralda Adrien, who arranged for fake credentials to be processed via a New York board while the actual schools in Florida issued the diplomas. An undercover purchase of a $16,000 diploma provided the evidence needed to charge the operators, including owners of the Palm Beach School of Nursing, Siena College of Health and Carleen Health Institute, who have pleaded guilty and been ordered to forfeit millions.
Prosecutors allege the conspirators spent the money on luxury homes, cars and travel. The fallout includes unqualified nurses practicing across the country, raising patient-safety concerns, and state nursing boards have listed dozens of now-closed Florida schools as fraudulent. Authorities are continuing to revoke licenses and remove impostors from the health-care system.
