A Maryland man from Laurel has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his role in a multi-state nursing credentials scam.
U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman handed down the sentence to Patrick Nwaokwu, 55, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He will also serve two years of supervised release.
According to federal prosecutors, Nwaokwu conspired with others to sell fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts, helping buyers obtain licenses and jobs in the healthcare field despite lacking the required training.
The scheme, which began in 2018, involved fake credentials from a now-defunct Virginia-based school as well as a Florida nursing school that had lost its license. Documents were backdated to make it appear the purchasers graduated before the schools shut down.
Nwaokwu reportedly charged up to $17,000 for fake RN degrees and between $6,000 and $10,000 for LPN credentials, instructing buyers on how to complete licensing applications to avoid detection.
Authorities say the operation led to more than $1.5 million in losses and allowed unqualified individuals to seek licensure and employment as nurses, putting patients at serious risk. A co-conspirator previously received a 13-month federal prison sentence in connection with the case.
