Fallout from Operation Nightingale — a coordinated scheme to sell more than 7,600 fake diplomas and transcripts to aspiring nurses — continues to unfold more than a year after 25 people were charged for their roles in running the scheme.
In January of 2023, 25 people were charged for their alleged participation in operating the scheme from three now-shuttered schools in South Florida. Officials have estimated that around 37% of individuals with phony documents passed the National Council Licensure Examination and went on to secure employment. Twenty defendants have been convicted for their role in running the sham, mostly through plea deals. At least four people have been sentenced.
Here are three related updates Becker's has covered since December, starting with the most recent:
1. Four nurses are suing the state of New York to regain licenses they voluntarily gave up, claiming they are innocent and have submitted proof of attending classes and completing clinical hours. Last year, New York was among states that asked nurses who graduated from the schools involved in the scheme to hand over their licenses. New York has also requested more information for 50 remaining individuals who have refused to give up their licenses and continue to work.
2. Students of schools involved were encouraged to take their NCLEX in states with loose rules on the number of times a person can take, and fail, the exam, Iowa state officials previously told the Iowa Capital Dispatch. New York and Iowa are among the states that don't limit the number of retests.
3. In December, a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., found three defendents guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges after a three-week trial. The defendants — Gail Russ, former director of student services and registrar at the now-closed Palm Beach School of Nursing; Cassandre Jean and Vilaire Duroseau, two healthcare operators — were charged for their involvement in running the sham, including recruiting students to the school to purhcase the degrees, according to the Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The school's former president and owner, Johanah Napoleon, was the prosecution's main witness. Ms. Napoleon previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and was sentenced to 21 months in prison.