12 more charged in South Florida fake nursing diploma scheme
Key Points(5)
- At the time, then-U.S.
- Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said more than 7,000 people purchased fake diplomas and transcripts from for-profit nursing schools in Florida.
- Those who passed went on to qualify for licenses and, in some cases, nursing jobs.
- Federal prosecutors estimate the scheme generated about $114 million.</p> <p data-start="1190" data-end="1513">In the first phase of the investigation, 30 people — including at least eight South Florida residents — were charged and later convicted by plea or trial.
- The new round of indictments adds 12 more defendants, with some cases already set for sentencing or trial.
Twelve additional people — including eight South Florida residents — have been charged in a years-long scheme that sold thousands of fraudulent nursing diplomas to aspiring nurses across the country, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
The charges come nearly three years after the Justice Department first revealed the massive operation in January 2023. At the time, then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said more than 7,000 people purchased fake diplomas and transcripts from for-profit nursing schools in Florida. Those schools included Siena College in Lauderhill, Sacred Heart International Institute in Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach School of Nursing in Palm Beach County.
The counterfeit diplomas, which sold for an average of $15,000, allowed buyers to sit for national nursing exams without completing required courses or clinical training. Those who passed went on to qualify for licenses and, in some cases, nursing jobs. Federal prosecutors estimate the scheme generated about $114 million.
In the first phase of the investigation, 30 people — including at least eight South Florida residents — were charged and later convicted by plea or trial. The new round of indictments adds 12 more defendants, with some cases already set for sentencing or trial. One person has received a 13-month federal prison sentence.
Among those charged this week are:
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Carleen Noreus, 51, of Broward County, president of Carleen Home Health School, Inc. in Plantation and vice president of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc. in West Palm Beach. Trial begins Dec. 1.
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Patrick Buchanan, 40, of Broward County, owner of Sigma Institute of Health Careers, Inc. in Lauderhill. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and will be sentenced Nov. 19.
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Gilbert Hyppolite, 73, of Palm Beach County, owner of Techni-Pro Institute LLC in Boca Raton. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Irene Matthews, 55, of Palm Beach County, registered agent of Agape Academy of Sciences, LLC in Delray Beach. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Lemuel Pierre, 56, of Broward County, owner of Med-Life Enterprise, Inc. in Lauderdale Lakes. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Joel Lubin, 51, of Miami-Dade County, registered agent and administrator of Ideal Professional Institute, Inc. in Miami Gardens. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Jose Napoleon, 40, of Palm Beach County, director of admissions for Azure College, Inc. in Fort Lauderdale. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Victor Escalante Zerpa, 68, of Miami-Dade County, who incorporated Academus University Corp. in Coral Gables. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Stephanie Dorisca, 57, of Broward County, head of nursing at Techni-Pro Institute LLC. Charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Federal officials previously said about 2,400 of the more than 7,000 buyers eventually passed their licensing exams, most in New York. Because nurses licensed in New York can practice in Florida and other states, many were able to secure jobs despite lacking proper training. Authorities have said those who bought the fraudulent diplomas are unlikely to face criminal charges.
The Justice Department stressed that the fraudulent diplomas undermined nursing license protections designed to keep patients safe. Florida law requires nursing programs to devote at least half of their curriculum to hands-on clinical training, but prosecutors say students who bought these diplomas never received such instruction.
