A South Florida woman who owned two nursing schools has pleaded guilty to federal charges after prosecutors said she orchestrated a years-long scheme that sold thousands of fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts to individuals who never completed the education and clinical training required to become nurses.
Carleen Noreus, 52, of Plantation, entered a guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The plea came after two weeks of testimony during her federal trial.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Noreus served as president of Carleen Home Health School, Inc. in Plantation and vice president of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc. in West Palm Beach. Between April 2018 and October 2025, prosecutors said she was responsible for distributing 2,956 fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts through the two schools.
Federal prosecutors said many of those who obtained the fraudulent credentials later used them to qualify for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the licensing exam required for nurses in the United States. Court records indicate that approximately 2,274 individuals ultimately passed the exam and obtained nursing licenses in Florida and other states despite never completing the required educational programs.
The case is part of Operation Nightingale, a nationwide federal investigation targeting fraudulent nursing diploma schemes that operated through several South Florida schools. The investigation has led to numerous arrests and convictions involving school operators, recruiters, and individuals accused of purchasing fake credentials.
Authorities say the scheme undermined public trust in the healthcare system by allowing unqualified individuals to enter the nursing profession using fraudulent academic records.
“Nursing licenses must be earned through education, training, and demonstrated competence—not purchased through fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones in a statement. “By selling thousands of fraudulent diplomas and transcripts, the defendant undermined the integrity of the nursing profession and our healthcare system.”
Noreus faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each count. Her sentencing is scheduled for September 10, 2026.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the FBI, and other federal law enforcement agencies.
Editor’s Note: While previous reporting has noted that some individuals involved in the broader Operation Nightingale investigation were members of South Florida’s Haitian-American community, federal prosecutors have not stated that the majority of diploma purchasers in this case were Haitian-American. L’Union Suite is reporting only information confirmed through court records and official statements.
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