By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On September 15, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced new charges in the wide-ranging fake nursing diploma scheme named Operation Nightingale. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced 12 South Florida individuals in connection with the ongoing case, investigators have dubbed Phase II of Operation Nightingale.
Unfortunately, this goes even farther to tarnish the already blackened reputation of all nursing schools in Florida, whether private, state or religious. Even Florida state college schools of nursing and religious universities that have been in existence for 50 years or more are now being scrutinized to the extreme by out-of-state licensing authorities.
What Is Operation Nightingale?
Originally announced in January 2023, Operation Nightingale uncovered a large-scale fraud in which private Florida nursing schools produced fraudulent diplomas and transcripts awarding them to nurses who signed up for and paid for their programs. These documents were marketed to individuals who wished to shorten the process of becoming a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN). There are many legitimate programs for this across the U.S. This is usually called a “bridge program,” to bridge a practical nurse’s training and experience to an eventual registered nurse (R.N.) license.
However, in this case, the scheme allegedly distributed over 7,600 fraudulent nursing credentials through a number of different Florida-based schools, including Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing, and Sacred Heart International Institute, all now closed.
Phase II: More Charges from South Florida.
As reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, via the Orlando Sentinel, in Phase II, 12 additional South Florida individuals were indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Some are affiliated with private schools like Agape Academy of Sciences (Delray Beach) and Techni-Pro Institute (Boca Raton), which state records show have been closed and dissolved.
List of New Individuals and Schools.
The latest individuals and their associated schools, as named in Phase II of Operation Nightingale, are:
Carleen Noreus–Carleen Home Health School, Inc., Plantation Florida and Carleen Home Health School II, Inc., West Palm Beach, Florida
Patrick Buchanan–Sigma Institute of Health Careers, Inc., Lauderhill, Florida
Gilbert Hyppolite–Techni-Pro Institute, Boca Raton, Florida
Irene Matthews–Agape Academy of Sciences, Delray Beach, Florida
Lemuel Pierre–Med-Life Enterprise, Inc., Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Joel Lubin–Ideal Professional Institute, Miami Gardens, Florida
Jose Napoleon–Azure College, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Victor Escalante Zerpa–Academus University Corp., Coral Gables, Florida
Stephanie Doriska–Technique-Pro Institute, Boca Raton, Florida
Patrick Buchanan has reportedly already pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on November 19, 2025.
Please remember: “All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.” –Bad Boys
Each defendant faces up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. These prosecutions build on earlier indictments from Phase I of the investigation, signaling that federal authorities may be far from finished with its investigations. Many additional Florida schools and the individuals controlling them could face the chopping block.
Why This Matters to Nurses.
The expansion of Operation Nightingale is a reminder that shortcuts in nursing education can carry devastating consequences. For the nursing profession, the implications are significant:
1. Licensure Risks: State boards of nursing are carefully reviewing applications linked to the implicated schools. Nurses who obtained credentials from those programs may face delays, denials, or even revocation of licenses.
2. Employment Consequences: Employers are scrutinizing educational backgrounds. A nurse whose diploma is invalid may lose their job, and facilities could face liability for negligent hiring.
3. Criminal Exposure: While many prosecutions target school operators and recruiters, individuals who knowingly purchased fraudulent diplomas could also face charges.
4. Reputation & Trust: Patient safety relies on public trust. High-profile scandals risk damaging the reputation of the nursing profession as a whole.
This case highlights weaknesses in oversight of private nursing schools and the need for reforms. Federal and state regulators are likely to propose stricter approval processes, more rigorous audits, and clearer reporting obligations. For legitimate nurses, the scandal may result in higher scrutiny during licensure and employment, but this added layer of oversight also strengthens the integrity of the profession.
Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in Investigations and Complaints Against Nurses and Nursing Students.
Nurses and nursing students should take proactive steps to verify and protect their credentials, while employers and regulators continue to close gaps in oversight. If you have concerns about your credentials or have been contacted by your state board, we encourage you to seek legal advice promptly.
The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to those applying for nursing licenses, nurses, nursing students, and ARNPs in Department of Health (DOH) complaint investigations, license defense, DOJ investigations, Board of Nursing investigations, formal and informal administrative hearings, emergency suspension orders, emergency restriction orders and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers.
To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or toll-free (888) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
Sources:
DiMichele, Angie. “Feds: More South Floridians accused in fake nursing diploma scam.” South Florida Sun Sentinel. (September 18, 2025). Web.
Toussaint, Ange. “More charges filed in fake nursing degree scam affecting 7,300 people.” WPTV West Palm Beach. (September 16, 2025). Web.
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Florida. “Fraud Charges Filed Against 12 Defendants in Phase II of Operation Nightingale.” Press Release. (September 15, 2025). Web.
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Suite 1000, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620 or Toll-Free: (888) 331-6620.
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