A Nigerian man, Patrick Nwaokwu, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison in the United States for his role in a nursing credentials fraud scheme that caused more than $1.5 million in losses.
The sentencing was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, following a federal court ruling.
The court also ordered a two-year supervised release following his prison term.
U.S. prosecutors said Nwaokwu conspired with multiple individuals to sell fraudulent nursing diplomas and academic transcripts to people seeking employment in healthcare.
According to court documents, the scheme involved assisting buyers in fraudulently obtaining nursing licenses required to work in the United States.
Prosecutors added that Nwaokwu charged up to $17,000 for registered nurse (RN) certificates and between $6,000 and $10,000 for licensed practical nurse (LPN) certificates.
According to his plea agreement, Nwaokwu began the scheme around 2018, working with co-conspirators, including Musa Bangura, to recruit individuals across Maryland and other locations.
The group issued falsified documents that falsely claimed recipients had completed required coursework and clinical training.
Because some of the institutions involved had lost their licences, the conspirators backdated documents to make it appear that students graduated before accreditation was revoked.
Nwaokwu also worked with other accomplices in Florida to sell fraudulent nursing degrees, instructing buyers on how to manipulate licensing applications to avoid detection.
Authorities said the fraudulent documents were used to obtain licenses from regulatory bodies such as the Maryland Board of Nursing, allowing unqualified individuals to secure jobs in the healthcare system.
One of Nwaokwu’s co-conspirators, Musa Bangura, had earlier been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme.
The investigation was led by the FBI Baltimore Field Office and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
This case adds to a growing list of fraud-related cases involving Nigerian nationals abroad.
In a similar case, U.S. authorities indicted Shodiya Babatunde and Jamui Ahmed over a business email compromise scheme that targeted Minnesota-based healthcare companies.