A Florida nursing school owner has pleaded guilty to federal charges after prosecutors said she helped sell nearly 3,000 fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts to individuals who had not completed the required education or clinical training. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Carleen Noreus, owner of two South Florida nursing schools, admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering following a two-week trial in Fort Lauderdale.
Court records showed that between April 2018 and October 2025, Noreus was responsible for providing 2,956 fraudulent nursing diplomas. The fake credentials falsely stated that recipients had completed the academic and clinical requirements for Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN), or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs.
The fraudulent documents enabled buyers to sit for national nursing licensure examinations. Prosecutors said approximately 2,274 individuals passed the exams, obtained nursing licenses, and secured healthcare jobs across Florida and other U.S. states. Both schools have since been shut down by state authorities. The prosecution forms part of the second phase of Operation Nightingale, a nationwide federal investigation into fraudulent nursing diploma schemes.
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