"This was a dangerous scheme, no one wants an unqualified health care worker involved in their treatment and care." - CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
Seven people each face up to three years in prison after using fake transcripts to become licensed registered nurses and recently pleading guilty to charges of forgery. They were arrested a year ago as a result of a multi-agency investigation including the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ (DCA) Division of Investigation and are scheduled for sentencing June 27, 2014.
Those who pleaded guilty include:
- Juan Malaluan Tenorio, Jr. and Glyn Cordova Villegas of Kern County
- James Quijano Leoncio of Orange County
- Philip Tolentino Sarmiento, Laurence Viernes, German Zagada and Jude Dagza Leoncio of Los Angeles County
The seven applied for licenses to practice as Registered Nurses in California using false and forged nursing school transcripts from the Philippines.
The DCA Division of Investigation worked with HSI, the Internal Revenue Services’ Criminal Investigation Division and the California Board of Registered Nursing to investigate and arrest the seven. An eighth individual Joanne Keeney, the suspected-ringleader, currently resides in the Philippines. There is a warrant for her arrest.
“This is a perfect example of our state investigators working with outside agencies, whether it's on the local or federal level, and protecting Californians from harm," said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. "This was a dangerous scheme, no one wants an unqualified health care worker involved in their treatment and care." At the request of the Board of Registered Nursing, a Sacramento County Superior Court Judge has ordered Juan Malaluan Tenorio, Jr., Glyn Cordova Villegas, Philip Tolentino Sarmiento, Jude Dagza Leoncio, and James Quijano Leoncio not to practice as registered nurses.
The Board filed and served accusations against Juan Malaluan Tenorio Jr., Glyn Cordova Villegas, Philip Tolentino Sarmiento, Jude Dagza Leoncio and James Quijano Leoncio on May 16, 2014, and German Zagada on May 22, 2014 seeking revocation of their RN licenses.
