South Florida Nursing School Operators Admit to Selling Fake Diplomas
In a significant development within the healthcare education sector, three former operators of nursing schools in South Florida have confessed to their involvement in a diploma fraud scheme. This scheme allowed aspiring nurses to bypass standard licensing procedures by purchasing fake diplomas, thus hastening their entry into the healthcare workforce nationwide.
These admissions of guilt were recorded on Monday in the Fort Lauderdale federal court, as part of an expansive federal investigation targeting approximately 50 private nursing school proprietors and affiliates in South Florida. This crackdown has been ongoing for three years, with only two individuals still awaiting trial, scheduled for 2026.
Details of the Guilty Pleas
The individuals who pleaded guilty include Victor Escalante Zerpa, who previously managed Academus University in Coral Gables. Zerpa reportedly amassed $9.5 million from this illicit operation. Similarly, Lemuel Pierre, the former owner of Med-Life Institute, with branches in Lauderdale Lakes, Kissimmee, and Naples, admitted to accruing $9.1 million through fraudulent activities. Lastly, Irene Matthews, the former manager of the Agape Academy of Sciences in Delray Beach, acknowledged receiving $1.5 million in illegal earnings.
The federal investigation continues to unravel the extensive network involved in this diploma mill operation, a case that has captured significant attention due to its implications for the credibility of nursing qualifications and patient safety across the United States.
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