Federal Prosecutors Say Local Nursing Schools SOLD Diplomas, Nursing Credentials.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A nationwide federal investigation known as “Operation Nightengale” just led to the the arrest of twelve private nursing school owners and employees who are accused of selling diplomas and nursing credentials. The takedown is the second part of the operation that led to the arrest and conviction of 30 people in 2023.
“According to court records,” said the Department of Justice in a statement issued to BocaNewsNow.com, “the defendants conspired to sell false nursing credentials—diplomas and transcripts fraudulently obtained from Florida-based nursing schools—to aspiring Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Nurse Practioner/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN) candidates. Purchasers of the bogus documents used them to qualify for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), commonly known as the nursing board exam. Candidates who passed the exam became eligible for licensure in various states, and once licensed, obtained employment as nurses across the United States.”
Here are the local arrests:
Gilbert Hyppolite (Case No. 25-cr-60207-Dimitrouleas), 73, of Palm Beach County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Hyppolite was the owner of Techni-Pro Institute LLC, located in Boca Raton. Techni-Pro offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
Irene Matthews (Case No. 25-cr-60209-Damian), 55, of Palm Beach County, is charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Matthews was the registered agent and/or manager of Agape Academy of Sciences, LLC., located in Delray Beach. Agape offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs.
Jose Napoleon (Case No. 25-cr-60213-Martinez), 40, of Palm Beach County, is charged by information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Napoleon was the director of admissions for Azure College, Inc., located in Fort Lauderdale. Azure offered Practical Nursing, Associate of Science in Nursing, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) programs.
As to the wire fraud conspiracy charges, the defendants face a statutory maximum of 20 years.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Isaac Bledsoe of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG Miami are investigating. Homeland Security Investigations Miami provided support.
Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark is prosecuting the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
If you have information to report regarding this case or any other case involving falsified medical degrees, please call the FBI hotline: (410) 277-6999.
An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
