DOJ: South Florida Nursing Schools Sold 7,600+ Fake Diplomas

More than 2 dozen individuals are being charged for their supposed involvement in the scheme and could face up to 20 years in prison.

SDI Productions/ E+ via Getty Images
SDI Productions/ E+ via Getty Images

3 different nursing schools in south Florida allegedly sold more than 7,600 fake diplomas that allowed recipients to bypass required industry training, according to federal prosecutors.

The Justice Department announced that more than 2 dozen individuals are being charged for their supposed involvement in the scheme and could face up to 20 years in prison, saying in a statement that they “engaged in a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing degree diplomas and transcripts obtained from accredited Florida-based nursing schools.”

The alleged enterprise, which took place from 2016 to 2021, started with recruiters helping hopeful nurses obtain falsified degrees and transcripts. Those documents then qualified them to take the national nursing board exam. Then, if they passed, they became eligible to be licensed in the health care field.

Nurses who managed to obtain falsified degrees reportedly went on to work with homebound children, in assisted living facilities, and for veteran affairs departments. They operated in several states, including Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, Maryland, and Texas, according to legal documents.

The 3 schools involved are the Siena College of Health, Palm Beach School of Nursing, and Sacred Heart International Institute. All institutions are now closed.

“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.