Maryland Man Sentenced to Nearly Two Years for Orchestrating Nursing Diploma and License Fraud Scheme

A Laurel man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a scheme that sold fraudulent nursing diplomas, transcripts, and licenses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Patrick Nwaokwu, 55, received a sentence of 21 months incarceration, followed by two years of supervised release, for committing wire fraud. The investigation and prosecution involved the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The scheme, which began in 2018, involved Nwaokwu and his co-conspirators recruiting individuals seeking nursing degrees and employment in the healthcare field. They facilitated this by selling fraudulent documents from institutions such as a nursing school in Virginia and Palm Beach School of Nursing in Florida. These documents falsely attested that purchasers had completed required coursework and clinical training, enabling them to obtain nursing licenses from state agencies, including the Maryland Board of Nursing. The illicit operation resulted in over $1.5 million in actual financial losses.

Nwaokwu also conspired with Musa Bangura, 67, of Manassas, Virginia, to recruit potential buyers in Maryland and other locations. They provided fraudulent documents from Nursing School 1, which had lost its licensure. To circumvent this, Nwaokwu and his associates backdated these false credentials to make it appear as though the purchasers had attended the school before its licensure was revoked. This practice was part of a broader effort to deceive licensing boards and employers.

Further engaging in fraudulent practices, Nwaokwu, from 2018 through at least July 2021, collaborated with Johanah Napoleon, 50, of West Palm Beach County, Florida, and Geralda Adrien, 56, of Broward County, Florida. Together, they sold fake Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degrees from the Palm Beach School of Nursing to individuals in Maryland. Nwaokwu charged substantial amounts for these fraudulent degrees, with RN diplomas costing approximately $17,000 and LPN diplomas ranging from $6,000 to $10,000. He advised purchasers to list the Palm Beach School of Nursing on their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) applications but to leave the graduation date blank. This allowed Nwaokwu to backdate the graduation date, making it seem as though the students had completed their studies before the school lost its accreditation.

By supplying these falsified documents, Nwaokwu and his accomplices facilitated the procurement of illegitimate nursing licenses. This enabled unqualified individuals to practice as nurses, potentially endangering patients. The U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted that the scheme consciously and recklessly exposed patients in Maryland to risks of harm, death, and serious bodily injury due to the practice of unqualified individuals in the healthcare profession. Musa Bangura, another individual involved in the scheme, previously received a 13-month federal prison sentence for his participation.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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