Topics: US News, Crime, Coronavirus, Health
A Long Island nurse is accused of laundering $1.5million cash from selling fake COVID vaccine cards to pay off her mortgage.
Nurse Julie DeVuono, 49 and employee Marissa Urraro, 44, are accused of selling fake vaccination cards 'on one or more occasions', undercover detectives have said.
DeVuono's NYPD officer husband is also said to be involved in the alleged scheme and was stripped of his badge last year.
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The nurse, who owns Wild Child Pediatrics Healthcare on Long Island, allegedly charged $220 for adults and $85 for children to enter fake information on the the New York State Immunization Information System.
DeVuono would receive shipments of the vaccine to administer to patients for free but would opt to throw unused doses in the trash instead, the suit claims.
Colleague Urarro would allegedly take patients into a room and 'feigned' by giving almost all of the vaccinations, but 'occasionally gave actual COVID-19 vaccinations'.
Police reportedly discovered $869,000 in cash at DeVuono's home in Amityville, some of which was found in NYPD-issued helmet bags.
DeVuono and Urraro have been charged with forgery and offering a false instrument for filing for fake vaccination cards.
The two nurses have pleaded not guilty to the charges as they left Suffolk County Court on Friday.
Both women were released without bail.
The NYPD are now undergoing an internal investigation to look into the officer's potential involvement.
"It's frightening beyond words," local Erin Bevilacqua from Park Avenue Grill t old CBS New York.
"I'm grateful it's been put to an end. Break laws, give fake vaccines, it's very disheartening."
"As nurses, these two individuals should understand the importance of legitimate vaccination cards as we all work together to protect public health," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison said in a statement.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney also said: "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."
Urraro's lawyer claims her client is 'a respected license practical nurse' who has faced 'defects' in the prosecutor's investigations.
"From our preliminary investigation, there are defects in the [prosecutors’] investigation and legal impediments to how the case came about," lawyer Michael Alber claimed.
