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. 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. Our Baby Namer - Origin and Meaning of Baby Names, Books, Gifts. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. STE 100 Lauderhill, FL 33313 View Map & Direction. Broadcast stations must credit BocaNewsNow.com on air. . 6. worked as employees or played the roles of recruiters for the South Florida nursing schools, including Palm Beach School of Nursing. West Palm-area nursing school one of three targeted in fake diploma probe, Florida nursing schools sold 7,600 fake diplomas worth more than $100 million, feds say, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, Fake nursing diplomas and transcripts issued: 7,600+, States involved: Florida, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Texas. 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. The schools involved Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute are now closed. 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). "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. That benefits the individual nurse, and in turn, benefits patients., To learn more about the Baldwin Nursing Program, please visit: www.siena.edu/Nursing. Clinical $800.00. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. RN to BSN Other Programs IN-SERVICES FOR NURSING ASSISTANT AND HOME HEALTH AIDE WISHING TO COMPLY WITH THE FLORIDA BOARD OF NURSING AND AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION (ACHA) BLS (CPR) FULL COURSE AND RECERTIFICATION $65.00 and $40.00 ALZEIHMERS: APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIR $15.00 HIV/AIDS $15.00 Contact news (at) bocanewsnow.com. Siena's Nursing Department offers two tracks towards a Bachelor's of Science degree in Nursing: RN to BS Nursing Program (RN-BS) The RN to BS Nursing program (established 2016), students will earn a Bachelor of Science degree within two years of full-time study or three years of part-time study. Albany Business Review (must be a subscriber to view full story), Siena Launches New Nursing Program For RNs Seeking Bachelors Degree. Jersey College - Ft. Lauderdale. I find it appalling and whatever happens to these people I think all of them are at fault not just the college that fraudulently put that license in place by lying on their transcript but also those people who chose this easy route to make the money. The FBI also investigated allegations that Nwaokwu and Bangura worked with people in Florida to sell illegitimate degrees for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses at a second school established by Johanah Napoleon, 45, of Wellington. 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. An estimated 7,600 students paid a total of $114 million for phony nursing degrees from the South Florida schools and other suspect programs between 2016 and 2021. 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. This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, helicopter parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. 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. BocaNewsNow.com is a registered trademark of MetroDesk Media, LLC. Prosecutors said the scheme put patient safety at risk since required training programs exist to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies.. A criminal compliant filed in Maryland and unsealed on Monday charges Nwaokwu, Bangura and Napoleon with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to make false statements relating to health care matters and making false statements relating to health care matters. It consists of 5 letters and 2 syllables and is pronounced Sie-na. The fact that people took an easy route to make money, which is ridiculous in my mindset, because Ive made lots of money as a nurse, but I did not go into nursing for that reason. 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," said Chad Yarbrough, special agent in charge of the FBI's Miami office. The Baldwin Nursing Program was created thanks to a gift from Thomas '81 and Laurie '80Baldwin of Albany. WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. The Florida Board of Nursing shut down Napoleons school in May 2017 for having a low passing rate on licensure exams, according to an FBI agents affidavit. The school offers classrooms and simulation/laboratory facilities. Crimes such as these unfortunately continue to spring up, especially in this area. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. U.S. v. Russ, et al., case no. In addition to classwork, the program includes a clinical practice segment that provides students with in-the-field experiences. 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It is alleged that these defendants solicited and recruited individuals who sought nursing credentials to gain employment as an LPN/VN. Three schools in Florida issued more than 7,600 fake nursing transcripts and diplomas to students, according to investigators. Eugene Sanon managed Siena College. COLLEGE PARK, Md. 25 charged in fraudulent nursing diploma scheme centered in South Florida. Online must link to BocaNewsNow.com. Nursing school scandal stretches from Florida to New York. 2023 Emerald X, LLC. We operate from a caring-based philosophy. The fake diplomas were allegedly issued by Palm Beach School of Nursing in West Palm Beach, Siena College of Health Florida in Lauderhill and Sacred Heart International Institute in Pompano Beach. From November 2020 to July 2021, Charles Etienne, owner of Sacred Heart International Institute, and two others provided students with 588 fake diplomas and transcripts, according to court filings . FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami investigated these cases. Each state determines the number of clinical hours necessary for reactivation of your license. The DOJ is prosecuting participants in the alleged scheme. U.S. v. Witherspoon, et al., case no. Nursing is a special calling that involves compassion and a sense of service with individuals at very vulnerable moments in their lives, Brother Ed said. 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 nurses,federal prosecutors have said. The meaning of Siena is "reddish, brown". 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. "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. Charges Related to Fraudulent Nursing Diplomas and Transcripts fromSacred Heart International Institute, U.S. v. Jean, et al., case no. 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 . Sixty-one semester hours of credit beyond the . U.S. v. Sanon, 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. The CBS Miami team is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on CBSMiami.com. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. Among those newly charged: Eunide Sanon, owner of Siena College of Health/Siena Education Center, and Charles Etienne, president of Sacred Heart International in Fort Lauderdale. / CBS Miami. In fact, the aspiring nurses never completed the necessary courses and clinicals. 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. The knowledge and skills taught are consistent with the role and scope of practice defined . Students will be able to perform their clinical work at hospitals, community and public health settings, or other medical facilities throughout the region, providing a benefit to both the student and the community. Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. 22-60111-Cr-Smith and 22-60118-Cr-Smith). The charges speak to the purpose of a nursing license which is to protect the public from harm by setting minimum qualifications and competencies. MILLIONS OF PAGE VIEWS EACH MONTH. Thank you. Multiple indictments were announced Wednesday by the Department of Justice. 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. I dont even know what to say except for shame on you. Siena is a great choice for parents looking for a more popular name. After the school was shut down for violating state regulations, Nwaokwu and Bangura continued selling bogus transcripts and certifications backdated to when it was open, the FBI says. It consists of 5 letters and 2 syllables and is pronounced Sie-na. Bachelor of Science in Nursing. 89.7%. This program is designed for the LPN who feels qualified to participate in an accelerated program. Federal authorities in Florida have charged 25 people with. Receipts showed that students paid between $6,000 and $18,000 for the fake transcripts and certificates from the Virginia school, the affidavit says. Begin today and pass the NCLEX! A Florida couple has been charged with aggravated manslaughter in the death of an 18-month-old girl who died after being left in a hot car overnight following a Fourth of July party, police said. 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. : 23-60013-Cr-Moreno. 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.

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