A 55-year-old Nigerian man, Patrick Nwaokwu, has been sentenced in the United States over a large-scale nursing credentials fraud scheme.

The announcement was made by United States Department of Justice through U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes in a statement released on Friday.

According to the statement, Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Nwaokwu to 21 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Investigators said Nwaokwu conspired with others to sell fraudulent nursing diplomas and academic transcripts to individuals seeking employment in the healthcare sector.

Authorities disclosed that he operated through multiple entities, including Nursing School 1 in Virginia and Palm Beach School of Nursing in Florida, helping buyers fraudulently obtain nursing licences needed to secure healthcare jobs.

The scheme reportedly caused more than $1.5 million in losses.

Court documents revealed that beginning in 2018, Nwaokwu worked with Musa Bangura to recruit buyers in Maryland and other areas seeking nursing qualifications.

Investigators said fraudulent documents were backdated to make it appear that recipients attended the schools before they lost their licences.

Authorities further alleged that Nwaokwu later partnered with Johanah Napoleon and Geralda Adrien to distribute fake RN and LPN degrees from Palm Beach School of Nursing.

According to prosecutors, he charged about $17,000 for registered nursing degrees and between $6,000 and $10,000 for licensed practical nursing qualifications.

The fraudulent documents allegedly enabled unqualified individuals to obtain nursing licences from agencies including the Maryland Board of Nursing and secure jobs in the healthcare industry.

Prosecutors warned that the scheme exposed patients to potential harm, serious bodily injury, and even death due to the involvement of unqualified practitioners.

Bangura had earlier been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for his role in the operation.

AB