Nursing board summarily suspends four licenses amid fraud, documentation and diversion allegations; denies consent order for another nurse

The Board of Examiners for Nursing voted Dec. 3 to summarily suspend four nurses and declined a consent order in a separate discipline matter, following presentations and requests from the Department of Public Health.

Attorney Joelle Newton, representing the department, told the board the department received information from the FBI and its own investigations alleging that some respondents lacked required program hours or provided false information on licensure applications. "The respondent does not have the required program hours and clinical training necessary to obtain a nursing associate in science degree," Newton said while urging summary suspension in one case.

Votes at a glance - Takiyah Bobo (petition 2025-279): Motion to summarily suspend granted. Motion: Mary Dietman; second: Elizabeth Rivera Rodriguez. Roll call: all present voted aye (Cindy Arpin, Mary Dietman, Lisa Freeman, Camille Payne, Elizabeth Rivera Rodriguez, Gina Reiners, Sal Diaz). Outcome: summarily suspended; assigned to a hearing officer for a hearing. - Michael Borelli, LPN (petition 2025-213): Motion to summarily suspend granted. Motion: Cindy Arpin; second: (recorded seconds). Roll call: all present voted aye. Outcome: summarily suspended; will proceed to a board panel for hearing (standard-of-care issues). - Claudia Cruz Mateo (petition 2025-883): Motion to summarily suspend granted. Motion: Mary Dietman; second: Sal Diaz. Roll call: all present voted aye. Outcome: summarily suspended; matter tied to a multi-agency investigation (Operation Nightingale). - Jennifer Marshall (petition 2025-28): Motion to summarily suspend granted. Motion: Mary Dietman; second: Elizabeth Rivera Rodriguez. Roll call: all present voted aye. Outcome: summarily suspended; chair designated this case to a board panel after members expressed concern that it raised standard-of-care issues in addition to diversion.

In the Michael Borelli presentation, the department alleged multiple instances where documentation indicated services were provided to home-care patients while those patients were hospitalized, and that patient initials were signed to indicate care that was not delivered. Attorney Newton said those omissions and falsified records posed an "immediate threat to the public health and safety."

Anthony Nanny, also representing DPH, described Claudia Cruz Mateo's matter as part of "Operation Nightingale," an FBI and HHS joint investigation. He said records from a Florida school indicated students received associate degrees without completing required prelicensure coursework or clinical training.

The board discussed procedural assignments. Counsel advised the chair to designate whether matters should be heard by a hearing officer or a panel; the panel route was selected for cases the board considered standard-of-care matters.

Consent order declined The board declined a proposed consent order for Melanie Gombos (petition 2025-185). Attorney Kataya presented a consent order proposing probation, therapy reporting and random urine screening after allegations of controlled-substance misuse. Several board members, including Lisa Freeman and Elizabeth Rivera, expressed concern that repeated relapses over several years made probation insufficient and urged more restrictive steps. Counsel reminded the panel that formal revocation requires a hearing; the board voted to decline the proposed consent order and return it to the department, which may pursue other options including summary suspension.

Next steps DPH counsel said hearings or panels will be scheduled promptly; for some matters the department expects hearings within a few weeks. The board set its next regular meeting for Dec. 17, 2025.

The board took no public comment at the meeting.