U.S. Court Jails Nigerian Man Patrick Nwaokwu Over Fake Nursing Certificates Scheme
- Apr 29
- 1 min read
A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Patrick Nwaokwu, to 21 months in prison for his involvement in a large-scale fraud scheme involving forged nursing diplomas and licences.
The 55-year-old was found guilty of conspiring with others to produce and distribute fake academic documents to individuals seeking employment in the healthcare sector. Authorities said the operation enabled unqualified persons to pose as trained nurses.
According to prosecutors, Nwaokwu played a central role in coordinating the sale of falsified transcripts and certificates, while also guiding buyers on how to secure professional licences under false pretences.
The scheme, which ran for several years, involved the use of institutions that had either lost accreditation or were misrepresented as legitimate training centres. Fraudulent documents were often backdated to avoid detection.
Investigators revealed that the operation extended across multiple states, with victims and participants spread across Maryland, Virginia, and Florida. The fraudulent activities resulted in financial losses exceeding $1.5 million.
Court documents further showed that Nwaokwu charged significant sums for the fake qualifications, with higher fees for registered nursing credentials and lower rates for practical nursing certifications.
Officials stressed that the scheme not only defrauded individuals and institutions but also posed serious risks to public health by allowing unqualified practitioners into medical roles.
In addition to his prison sentence, Nwaokwu will serve two years under supervised release. One of his accomplices had earlier received a separate prison term for involvement in the same network.
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