Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
Federal authorities have filed fraud-related charges against 12 individuals in the second phase of Operation Nightingale, a nationwide crackdown on a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts. These charges target nursing school owners and employees in Florida who allegedly conspired to provide false credentials, allowing aspiring nurses to bypass required education and clinical training to obtain licenses and employment across the United States.
Operation Nightingale Expands
This latest action follows Phase I of Operation Nightingale in 2023, which resulted in the conviction of 30 defendants. The schemes involved multiple for-profit nursing schools in Florida, all of which have since closed. These institutions, once authorized to issue nursing credentials, are accused of generating approximately 7,300 fake diplomas.
The defendants are primarily charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Court records indicate they sold bogus diplomas and transcripts for Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) candidates. These fraudulent documents were then used to qualify individuals to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the crucial nursing board exam.
Risks to Public Health and Safety
Successful passage of the NCLEX, based on fraudulent credentials, allowed these individuals to become eligible for licensure in various states. Once licensed, they secured employment as nurses nationwide. This bypass of legitimate training poses a significant risk to public health and safety, as unqualified individuals could be providing direct patient care.
Professional nursing licensure is designed to protect the public by ensuring that only qualified and competent practitioners deliver nursing care. State boards of nursing establish rigorous standards for education, regulate licensure, and oversee compliance with training requirements to mitigate these risks.
Regulatory Frameworks Undermined
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) mandates that candidates for RN or LPN/VN licensure graduate from a board-approved pre-licensure program and pass the NCLEX. The Nurse Licensure Compact, adopted by 43 states including Florida, further ensures consistent standards for safe practice across state lines.
Florida’s Board of Nursing regulates pre-licensure programs and enforces curriculum requirements under the Nurse Practice Act. It requires all licensure applicants to graduate from an approved program and provide official transcripts. Florida nursing programs must dedicate at least 50% of their curriculum to hands-on clinical training, in addition to academic coursework.
Key Defendants and Sentencing
Among the defendants, Herline Lochard, 46, of Orange County, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Lochard, who served as a registered agent or manager for Center for Professional Training and Development Inc., Center for Professional Training Inc., and Wheatland Institute Inc., was sentenced to 13 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on July 31.
Carleen Noreus, 51, of Broward County, faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. As president of Carleen Home Health School, Inc., and vice president of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc., Noreus is accused of creating and distributing fraudulent transcripts and diplomas between January 2019 and September 2022. These documents falsely represented that recipients had completed necessary coursework and clinical training, enabling them to obtain nursing licenses in states like California, Pennsylvania, and Florida, and subsequently secure nursing jobs. Noreus is scheduled for trial beginning December 1 in Ft. Lauderdale.
Patrick Buchanan, 40, of Broward County, the owner and manager of Sigma Institute of Health Careers, Inc., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sigma offered Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs. Buchanan is slated for sentencing on November 19.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Alert
The FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami are investigating the cases, with support from Homeland Security Investigations Miami. Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting the cases, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding this case or any other involving falsified medical degrees to contact the FBI hotline at (410) 277-6999. It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
