Nursing School Operator Agrees to $9.5M Forfeiture
Carleen Noreus, sentenced to 87 months in prison for a nursing diploma fraud scheme, has agreed to forfeit $9.5 million to federal prosecutors.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Carleen Noreus, 52, agreed to a $9.5 million forfeiture deal with federal prosecutors after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. She is scheduled to report to federal prison on Monday to serve an 87-month sentence imposed in September.
Why it matters
The case involved fraudulent nursing transcripts and diplomas that allowed individuals to pursue licensure and health care employment without completing required training. It is part of Operation Nightingale, a national federal investigation that began in 2023.
Noreus has paid $4,189,732.71 toward a forfeiture money judgment, and the agreement commits her to $9.5 million total. The fraud produced 2,956 fraudulent nursing diplomas between April 2018 and October 2025, with California and Pennsylvania licensure cited as places the credentials were used.
The players
Carleen Noreus
Former president of Carleen Home Health School, Inc., who was sentenced in a federal nursing diploma fraud case tied to Operation Nightingale.
Operation Nightingale
A national federal investigation launched in 2023 targeting fraudulent nursing credentials and diploma schemes across multiple states.
The details
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. Prosecutors said she and co-conspirators recruited students seeking nursing credentials and created fraudulent transcripts and diplomas falsely representing completed coursework and clinical training. Florida authorities terminated both schools after the investigation.
Timeline
January 2019 to September 2022: Fraudulent diploma scheme operates at the two schools.
June: Noreus initially goes to trial in Fort Lauderdale federal court.
September: Noreus is sentenced to 87 months in prison.
Monday: Noreus is scheduled to report to federal prison.
Market Landscape
The Noreus prosecution is one of the cases brought under Operation Nightingale, a national federal investigation launched in 2023 into fraudulent nursing credentials. The case shows how fraudulent transcripts and diplomas entered state licensure pipelines in Florida, California, and Pennsylvania.
Employers and state licensing boards rely on verified nursing transcripts and diplomas, so fraudulent credentials can put unqualified staff into patient care roles. Job seekers should confirm that any nursing program they attend is accredited and that their credentials are verifiable with the issuing state board.
The takeaway
Verifying nursing credentials directly with state licensing boards is the most reliable safeguard against fraudulent diplomas, for employers and job seekers alike.
What happens next
Noreus is scheduled to report to federal prison on Monday to begin serving her 87-month sentence.
Further reading
Explore more on Nursing Jobs in Florida for context on the credential and licensing landscape.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sun Sentinel.
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