GREENBELT, Md. — A Maryland man has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his role in a scheme to sell fraudulent nursing diplomas, transcripts, and licenses, which allowed unqualified individuals to obtain employment in the healthcare field. Ejike Asiegbunam, 55, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was also ordered to forfeit over $1.6 million in profits he earned from the scheme, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron.
Asiegbunam operated a fraudulent institution, Nursing School 2, and conspired with others between January 2018 and June 2021 to sell fake nursing credentials to individuals in Maryland and elsewhere. These purchasers paid between $15,000 and $22,000 for falsified documents that claimed they had completed required coursework, including RN degrees, without attending classes or completing clinical assignments.
Additionally, Asiegbunam conspired with Johanah Napoleon, based in Florida, to sell fraudulent RN degrees from Palm Beach School of Nursing to individuals in Maryland and New York. Asiegbunam was compensated with a percentage of tuition payments for recruiting students.
By facilitating the issuance of fraudulent nursing licenses, the scheme posed a potential risk to patients, allowing unqualified individuals to work as nurses without proper training. Asiegbunam will serve two years of supervised release following his prison term.
