Authorities revealed that the suspects falsely claimed purchasers had completed required coursework and clinical training at a now-defunct institution, Nursing School 1. To avoid detection, they backdated documents to suggest students graduated before the school lost its license.
From 2018 to at least July 2021, one of the key figures, Nwaokwu, allegedly conspired with associates in Florida to sell fake RN and LPN credentials linked to Palm Beach School of Nursing. Buyers were charged up to $17,000 for RN degrees and between $6,000 and $10,000 for LPN qualifications. They were also instructed to leave graduation dates blank on licensing exam applications so they could later be falsified.
The fraudulent documents enabled recipients to obtain nursing licenses from state boards, including in Maryland, and secure healthcare jobs despite lacking proper training. Officials warned that the scheme exposed patients to serious health risks.
One co-conspirator, Bangura, has already been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison. Authorities credited federal investigators for uncovering the operation, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy.



