South Florida Nursing School Operator Pleads Guilty in $Multi-Million Fake Diploma Scheme Tied to Operation Nightingale

Carleen Noreus, 52, of Plantation, Florida, pleaded guilty on June 15, 2026, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to money laundering following a two-week federal trial in Fort Lauderdale. As president of Carleen Home Health School Inc. in Plantation and vice president of Carleen Home Health School II Inc. in West Palm Beach, Noreus sold 2,956 fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts between April 2018 and October 2025 to individuals who had not completed required coursework or clinical training for RN, LPN/VN, or BSN credentials. Approximately 2,274 purchasers passed national board exams, obtained licenses, and secured employment in healthcare across Florida and other states. Both schools were shut down by Florida authorities. This case forms part of Phase II of Operation Nightingale, a multi-agency effort by the DOJ, FBI, and HHS-OIG targeting fraudulent nursing credential schemes originating from South Florida for-profit schools. Earlier phases resulted in over 7,600 fake diplomas from three other institutions, with dozens of convictions. The scheme exploited a projected national RN shortage (8% by 2028, per National Center for Health Workforce Analysis), potentially placing unqualified individuals in patient care roles and undermining public safety. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones emphasized that licenses must be earned through education and competence, not fraud. Noreus faces up to 20 years per count at sentencing on September 10, 2026. Related cases include convictions of other operators and recruiters in the same operation.