A central Iowa man labored as a state-licensed nurse for 4 years after buying a fraudulent nursing diploma from an alleged diploma mill, based on state regulators.

In January 2018, Enome Massango of West Des Moines filed an software with the Iowa Board of Nursing, in search of a license as an LPN, or licensed sensible nurse. On the time, he reported having attended a 17-month sensible nursing training program on the Nationwide College of Nursing and Allied Well being in Virginia. The board accredited his software and issued him an LPN license in April 2018.

In June 2020, Massango filed one other software with the board, this time in search of a registered nurse’s license. In keeping with state information, he reported that he had graduated from Florida’s Siena Faculty of Well being in June 2019. He submitted a duplicate of his diploma and a transcript displaying attendance on the college over a interval of 15 months.

Precisely one yr later, after Massango efficiently accomplished the Nationwide Council Licensure Examination in Iowa, the board issued Massango an RN license.

Six weeks later, a nationwide group of state nursing boards notified the Iowa board of an FBI investigation into nursing-education packages that have been suspected of promoting faux diplomas and transcripts, usually for $6,000 to $18,000. The suspects within the case included the Nationwide College of Nursing and Allied Well being and Siena Faculty of Well being.

By the point the Iowa board was notified, the states of Virginia and Florida had lengthy since ordered the 2 establishments to stop operations.

An Iowa Board of Nursing investigator contacted Massango, who reportedly stated he had paid $11,000 to the Nationwide College of Nursing and Allied Well being. He initially claimed to have accomplished his coursework on the college in 2017 however couldn’t clarify why his transcripts confirmed a completion date of 2013, which predated the college’s pressured closure.

In keeping with the board, Massango additionally reported paying Siena Faculty $16,000 for his registered-nurse training.

After further dialogue with the board investigator, Massango allegedly admitted he had paid a person named Musa Bangura for the transcripts and diplomas as a “brief reduce” to finishing his training.

Education was a one-day ‘overview course’

At an April listening to earlier than the Iowa Board of Nursing, Massango reportedly acknowledged he had initially sought a nursing diploma from Indian Hills Group Faculty in Ottumwa earlier than being “kicked out” of this system for failing the course on psychological well being.

In keeping with the board, he additionally acknowledged that his academic program as a licensed sensible nurse consisted of a single-day “overview course.” As for the RN program at Siena Faculty, he allegedly acknowledged there was no coursework related to this system, including that he “principally needed to examine alone.”

Board information point out Massango needed to take the LPN examination twice, and the RN examination 4 occasions, earlier than passing the checks. On the listening to, Massango reportedly stated he was presently working as a “touring nurse” and was additionally employed by the Colorado Psychological Well being Institute.

After the listening to, the board concluded Massango had engaged in fraud when he knowingly bought fraudulent paperwork in an effort to qualify for licensure in Iowa. Massango, the board stated, “obtained little to no classroom instruction and didn’t bear any medical coaching.”

The board lately revoked Massango’s LPN and RN licenses.

Whereas licensed in Iowa, Massango labored at Valley View Village, an assisted residing middle and nursing house situated in Des Moines. Federal tax information point out he labored there a median of 64 hours per week in 2019, amassing greater than $114,000 in pay as an LPN.

In keeping with federal court docket information, the U.S. Division of Justice has criminally charged Bangura, Patrick Nwaokwu and Johanah Napoleon with conspiracy to commit well being care fraud, and conspiracy to make false statements referring to well being care issues.

In court docket filings, prosecutors declare the Nationwide College of Nursing and Allied Well being operated from 2008 by way of 2013 as a nursing college, at which level Nwaokwu and Bangura continued to illegitimately function the enterprise as a spot the place folks might go to buy faux transcripts and certifications that have been backdated to 2013.

The 2 have been additionally accused of partnering with Napoleon, in Florida, to promote diplomas by way of Siena Faculty after that faculty was shut down.

The legal case continues to be pending, and no trial date has been set.