Two nurses on Long Island are accused of forging COVID-19 vaccination cards and pocketing more than $1.5 million from the scheme, prosecutors and police said.
Julie DeVuono, the owner of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare in Amityville, and her employee, Marissa Urraro, are both charged with felony forgery, and DeVuono also is charged with offering a false instrument for filing. Both were arraigned Friday.
Urraro’s lawyer, Michael Alber, urged people not to rush to judgment about the allegations and said his client is a well-respected nurse.
“We look forward to highlighting the legal impediments and defects of the investigation,” he said Saturday. “It’s our hope that an accusation definitely doesn’t overshadow the good work Miss Urraro’s done for children and adults in the medical field.”
A messages seeking comment was left with DeVuono’s attorney.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney said DeVuono and Urraro handed out fake vaccination cards, charging $220 for adults and $85 for children. DeVuono, a nurse practitioner, and Urraro, a licensed practical nurse, entered the false information into the state’s immunization database, he said.
Prosecutors said the nurses forged a fake card showing a vaccine was given to an undercover detective but never administered the vaccine to the detective.
Law enforcement officers searched DeVuono’s home and said they seized about $900,000 in cash and a ledger showing profits of more than $1.5 million from the scheme, which began in November 2021.
“I hope this sends a message to others who are considering gaming the system that they will get caught and that we will enforce the law to the fullest extent,” Tierney said in a statement with other officials.
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison added, “As nurses, these two individuals should understand the importance of legitimate vaccination cards as we all work together to protect public health.”
(AP)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
7 Responses
I wonder if they will go after the people who ordered these cards and paid the money. I for one is not vaccinated and I don’t need the card as I am self employed and don’t go to treif places.
Evidence of her crime may be found in the untainted genes of her customers.
This is a movement I can get behind. Brave nurses like this will be remembered the same way the kulaks were fighting against the filthy boleshaviks
That’s better than giving the wrong medication.
This is definitely the worst crime out there.
no get of jail free card for them. dump them into a pit and throw away the key.
this definitely is a felony, never mind the scientist in the country were fizer did all their trials, are now saying that vaccine passports have to be abolished, as they do nothing. but instead of going after crime lets not let doctors do their jobs without getting raided.
don’t lie in the head line you said they stole in story you say the were charged but were not proven 100% guilty
The crooked politicians rake in more from the fake vaccines.