Fraud Charges Filed Against 12 defendants in Phase II of operation Nightingale – Southern District of Florida
Miami,FL – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, alongside the FBI Miami Field Office and the U.S.Department of Health and Human services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) miami Regional Office, announced today that fraud charges have been filed against twelve individuals in the second phase of “Operation Nightingale.” The charges stem from a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, related to alleged schemes involving falsified nursing degrees and fraudulent practices within several South Florida nursing schools.
The defendants named in the filings are:
* Marie Louis (Case No.25-cr-60208-Martinez), 53, of Miami-Dade County, was the owner and agent of Ideal Professional Institute, Inc., in Miami Gardens, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
* Jose Napoleon (Case No. 25-cr-60213-Martinez), 40, of Palm Beach County, served as the director of admissions for Azure College, Inc., in Fort Lauderdale, which offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and RN to BSN programs.
* Victor Escalante Zerpa (Case No. 25-cr-60216-Smith),68,of Miami-dade County,incorporated Academus University Corp in Coral Gables,offering Practical Nursing,Associate of Science in Nursing,and RN to BSN programs.
* Cleophat Tanis (Case No.25-cr-60212-Dimitrouleas), 58, of Collier County, was the co-owner and operator of Med-Life Institute, doing business as Med-life Institute Naples, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
* Lonnette Blair (Case No. 25-cr-60215-Becerra), 51, of Camden County, New Jersey, was the Chief Academic Officer of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc., offering Associate of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
* Stephanie Dorisca (Case No. 25-cr-60214-Moore), 57, of Broward County, served as the Head of Nursing at Techni-pro Institute LLC, offering Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and RN to BSN programs.
* Lourdes Ramirez (Case No. 25-cr-60209-Martinez), 49, of Miami-Dade County, was the owner of Sunshine State College LLC, located in Hialeah, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
* yolanda Rodriguez (Case No. 25-cr-60211-Dimitrouleas), 54, of Miami-Dade County, was the owner of New Beginnings Institute LLC, located in Hialeah, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of science in Nursing programs.
* Ana Margarita Gonzalez (Case No. 25-cr-60210-Martinez), 53, of Miami-Dade County, was the owner of Elite College of Professional Studies LLC, located in Hialeah, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
* Yaima Rodriguez (case No. 25-cr-60217-Smith), 44, of Miami-Dade County, was the owner of ABC Nursing Institute LLC, located in Hialeah, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
* Jorge Luis Rodriguez (Case No. 25-cr-60218-Smith), 46, of miami-Dade County, was the owner of Best Choice College LLC, located in Hialeah, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
* Yeniley Rodriguez (Case No. 25-cr-60219-Smith), 42, of Miami-Dade County, was the owner of Premier Healthcare Institute LLC, located in Hialeah, offering Practical Nursing and Associate of Science in Nursing programs.
Each defendant is charged by details with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, carrying a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones led the proclamation, with support from FBI special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles and Acting Special Agent in Charge Isaac Bledsoe of HHS-OIG. The inquiry is being conducted by FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations Miami.
The prosecution is being handled by Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff, who is also managing asset forfeiture.
Individuals with information related to this case or other instances of falsified medical degrees are encouraged to contact the FBI hotline at (410) 277-
