By our reporter 28.4.2026
A Nigerian man identified as Patrick Nwaokwu accused of selling fake nursing certificates to enable interested individuals work in the health sector, has been jailed for two years by a US court.
The 55-years-old Nwaokwu was alleged to have been involved in a large-scale nursing credentials fraud scheme. According to court documents, Nwaokwu and his co-conspirators “sold purchasers fraudulent Nursing School 1 documents” that falsely claimed recipients had completed the necessary coursework and clinical training required to obtain nursing degrees.
Judge Deborah L. Boardman of the US District Court for the District of Maryland handed down the sentence after Nwaokwu pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
According to investigators Nwaokwu had been part of a conspiracy that sold fraudulent nursing diplomas and academic transcripts to individuals seeking to enter the healthcare field.
Authorities revealed that the scheme, which began in 2018, involved recruiting individuals across Maryland and other areas who were willing to pay for fake credentials.
Nwaokwu worked alongside Musa Bangura to distribute falsified documents from a now-defunct institution, backdating them “to make it appear that they attended Nursing School 1 before it lost its licensure.”
Investigators also found that Nwaokwu collaborated with Johanah Napoleon and Geralda Adrien to sell fraudulent Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) degrees through the Palm Beach School of Nursing in Florida.
As part of the scheme, he “instructed purchasers to list Palm Beach School of Nursing on their National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) applications but to leave their graduation date blank,” allowing the dates to be manipulated to appear valid.
Prosecutors said Nwaokwu typically charged $17,000 for RN degrees and between $6,000 and $10,000 for LPN certifications, contributing to more than $1.5 million in losses.