By Adekunle Oluwafunmilayo
A U.S.-based Nigerian, Patrick Nwaokwu, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for masterminding a large-scale fraud scheme involving fake nursing credentials.
Justice Deborah L. Boardman handed down the sentence after Nwaokwu pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He will also serve two years of supervised release after his prison term.
Prosecutors revealed that the 55-year-old was part of a network that sold forged nursing diplomas and transcripts to individuals seeking entry into the healthcare sector without proper training.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes said the operation enabled unqualified individuals to obtain licenses fraudulently and work in sensitive medical roles.
Court documents showed that Nwaokwu and his collaborators—including Musa Bangura, Johanah Napoleon, and Geralda Adrien—distributed falsified academic records from a defunct institution known as “Nursing School 1,” backdating them to appear legitimate.
The group also marketed fake Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certifications, including documents linked to the Palm Beach School of Nursing in Florida.
Buyers were instructed to list the school on their NCLEX applications while leaving graduation dates blank, allowing fake timelines to be inserted later.
Authorities said Nwaokwu charged about $17,000 for fake RN certificates and between $6,000 and $10,000 for LPN credentials, generating more than $1.5 million in illegal proceeds.
Officials warned that the scheme posed serious public safety risks, as unqualified individuals were allowed to practice in healthcare settings. Co-conspirator Musa Bangura had earlier been sentenced to 13 months in prison.
