Florida Scheme Produces 7,600 Fraudulent Nursing Degrees
Florida scheme produces 7,600 fraudulent nursing degrees In a shocking turn of events, federal authorities in Florida have charged 25 individuals with participating in a wire fraud scheme that created…
Florida scheme produces 7,600 fraudulent nursing degrees In a shocking turn of events, federal authorities in Florida have charged 25 individuals with participating in a wire fraud scheme that created an illegal shortcut for aspiring nurses to get licensed and find employment. The scheme involved the sale of more than 7,600 fraudulent nursing degree diplomas from three Florida-based nursing schools, along with transcripts, to individuals seeking licenses and jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses.
According to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, not only is this a public safety concern, but it also tarnishes the reputation of nurses who have actually completed the demanding clinical and coursework required to obtain their professional licenses and employment. Lapointe added that a fraud scheme like this erodes public trust in our health care system.
The fake diplomas and transcripts qualified those who purchased them to sit for the national nursing board exam. If they passed, they were able to obtain licenses and jobs in various states, prosecutors said. The schools involved in the scam, Siena College, Palm Beach School of Nursing and Sacred Heart International Institute, are now closed.
It is particularly disturbing that more than 7,600 people around the country obtained fake credentials and were potentially in critical health care roles treating patients. The selling and purchasing of nursing diplomas and transcripts to “willing but unqualified individuals” is a crime that “potentially endangers the health and safety of patients and insults the honorable profession of nursing,” said Special Agent in Charge Omar Pérez Aybar.
Despite the severity of the crime, investigators have not yet found that any of the nurses caused harm to patients. The students paid a total of $114 million for the fake degrees between 2016 and 2021, and about 2,400 of the 7,600 students eventually passed their licensing exams, mainly in New York. Nurses certified in New York are allowed to practice in Florida and many other states.
This is a stark reminder of the importance of proper background checks and verification of credentials in the healthcare industry. It is crucial that we maintain the integrity of the nursing profession and ensure that only qualified individuals are able to practice. The defendants each face up to 20 years in prison. TBT
50 High-Paying Tampa Bay Jobs That Don’t Require College Degree
50 high-paying Tampa Bay jobs that don't require a College Degree. All the kids in High School hear it over and over and over again. Get a degree to get a good gig. Right? Well, our friends at Stacker went to the Labor Stats folks to put together a nice list of high-paying Tampa Bay jobs that do not require a college degree. We can start with Radio DJ, right? Check it out...
50. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $54,860
49. Correctional officers and jailers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $54,940
48. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $55,060
47. Industrial machinery mechanics
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $55,080
46. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $55,100
45. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $56,340
44. Private detectives and investigators
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $56,630
43. Riggers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $56,950
42. Sound engineering technicians
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $57,000
41. Occupational health and safety technicians
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $57,270
40. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $57,340
39. Real estate sales agents
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $57,750
38. Chefs and head cooks
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $58,180
37. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $58,440
36. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $60,100
35. Construction and building inspectors
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $60,320
34. Insurance sales agents
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $60,690
33. Crane and tower operators
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $60,850
32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $61,100
31. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $61,130
30. Property, real estate, and community association managers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $61,430
29. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $63,440
28. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $64,290
27. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $64,460
26. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $67,200
24 (tie). Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $67,280
24 (tie). Insurance appraisers, auto damage
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $67,280
23. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $69,010
22. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $69,020
21. Food service managers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $71,330
20. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $71,740
19. Flight attendants
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $72,130
18. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $72,790
17. Fire inspectors and investigators
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $72,830
16. Umpires, referees, and other sports officials
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $73,600
15. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $74,090
14. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $74,430
13. Power distributors and dispatchers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $77,550
12. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $79,040
11. Ship engineers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $82,480
10. Detectives and criminal investigators
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $85,460
9. Power plant operators
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $86,510
8. Lodging managers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $91,950
7. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $93,070
6. Transportation inspectors
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $93,120
5. Postmasters and mail superintendents
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $97,930
4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $99,070
3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $99,470
2. Commercial pilots
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $113,940
1. Athletes and sports competitors
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
– Annual mean salary: $141,900
