A South Florida nursing school owner, Carleen Noreus, 52, of Plantation, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to money laundering for her role in a scheme that sold fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts. The scheme allowed individuals to obtain nursing licenses and employment across the U.S. without completing the necessary education or training.
Noreus, who 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, conspired to sell diplomas for Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN), and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) credentials. These documents falsely represented that purchasers had completed academic and clinical requirements, enabling them to sit for national nursing board examinations.
Between April 17, 2018, and October 8, 2025, Noreus was responsible for providing 2,956 fraudulent nursing diplomas. Approximately 2,274 individuals who obtained these credentials subsequently passed nursing board examinations, securing licenses and employment as nurses. Both schools have since been terminated by state authorities following the investigation.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the severity of the crime, saying, "Nursing licenses must be earned through education, training, and demonstrated competence, not purchased through fraud. 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 statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.
This case is part of Operation Nightingale, a nationwide effort targeting fraudulent nursing diploma schemes in South Florida. This second phase has led to fraud-related charges against 13 defendants, including Noreus, while Phase I saw 30 defendants charged and convicted in 2023.