Federal prosecutors say they have filed fraud charges against 12 new defendants in the ongoing "Operation Nightingale" investigation, a scheme that sold fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts.

It marks the second phase of a crackdown that previously resulted in the conviction of 30 defendants in 2023, according to a statement issued Monday by the U.S. Attorneys Office in South Florida.

According to court records, the defendants, which include owners and employees of now-closed for-profit nursing schools in Florida, are accused of conspiring to sell fraudulent credentials.

The buyers of these documents then used them to qualify for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the national nursing board exam, say prosecutors. After passing, they became eligible for licensure

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