A U.S.-based Nigerian, Patrick Nwaokwu, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his involvement in a widespread scheme to sell fake nursing certificates and commit wire fraud, with the U.S. Department of Justice confirming the conviction on April 24. The 55-year-old was sentenced by Honourable Deborah L. Boardman and will also serve two years of supervised release following his prison term. His actions, which spanned from 2018 to July 2021, involved conspiring with multiple individuals to defraud unsuspecting individuals seeking nursing licensure in the United States, particularly in Maryland.
Nwaokwu operated through two unlicensed institutions—Nursing School 1 in Virginia and Palm Beach School of Nursing in Florida—selling fraudulent diplomas and transcripts that falsely claimed recipients had completed required coursework and clinical training. These documents were used by buyers to apply for nursing licenses and secure employment in healthcare, putting patients at serious risk. The Department of Justice stated that Nwaokwu and his co-conspirators caused over $1.5 million in actual losses through their fraudulent activities.
The scheme targeted individuals eager to enter the nursing profession, often immigrants or foreign-trained nurses seeking to work in the U.S. Nwaokwu charged between $6,000 and $10,000 for Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degrees and $17,000 for Registered Nurse (RN) degrees. He instructed buyers to leave graduation dates blank on their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) applications so he could backdate the documents, making it appear they had graduated before the schools lost their accreditation.
In one part of the operation, Nwaokwu teamed up with Musa Bangura, 67, of Manassas, Virginia, to recruit buyers in Maryland and other states. Bangura had already received a 13-month federal prison sentence for his role in the fraud. In another segment, Nwaokwu collaborated with Johanah Napoleon, 50, and Geralda Adrien, 56, both from Florida, to sell fake RN and LPN degrees from Palm Beach School of Nursing. The Department of Justice emphasized that these actions endangered public health, as unqualified individuals could have been placed in critical patient care roles.
The case underscores the risks posed by fraudulent educational credentials in high-stakes professions like nursing. Authorities have warned that such schemes not only undermine the integrity of the healthcare system but also endanger lives. Nwaokwu’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain will face serious legal consequences. This case may prompt stricter oversight of nursing credentialing processes in the U.S. and serve as a caution to others considering similar fraudulent activities.
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