Two scammers who ran bogus nursing schools that bilked more than 500 students out of $5 million were convicted on fraud and grand larceny raps in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Thursday and face up to 20 years behind bars.
Rodye Paquiot, 46, of New Jersey, and Nadege Auguste, 39, of Brooklyn, recruited poor people by telling them their sham schools qualified graduates to take state tests that would allow them to work as licensed practical nurses, the state Attorney General said.
“These individuals set up a fraudulent, get-rich-quick scheme that targeted people hoping to pursue new career opportunities,” said AG Eric Schneiderman.
“Like other fraudsters, they lined their own pockets with victims’ hard earned money, and are now facing the jail time they deserve.”
Between 2006 and 2011 a crooked crew that included Paquiot and Auguste operated schools in in Brooklyn and Queens that cost up to $9,500 and left students with useless transcripts and certificates, the AG said.
A third defendant, Jude Valles, was acquitted Thursday.
Seven other defendants involved in the scheme have already been convicted.
Paquiot and Auguste will be sentenced Aug 12.