A former New York nurse practitioner who earned roughly 1.5 million dollars by selling fake COVID 19 vaccination cards now faces an additional record setting civil penalty of 544000 dollars for falsifying routine childhood immunization records for 162 children in the state system.
Julie DeVuono operated Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare in Amityville in Suffolk County on Long Island. She submitted false entries into the New York State Immunization Information System claiming administration of vaccines to 162 school aged children between November 2019 and January 2022 when those shots never occurred. The falsified vaccines included diphtheria tetanus pertussis combinations hepatitis B measles mumps rubella polio varicella meningococcal and pneumococcal formulations required for school and daycare attendance.
DeVuono extended her activities to selling counterfeit COVID 19 vaccination record cards during the pandemic period. She obtained real vaccine doses through official state and federal programs but in many instances did not administer them and instead issued the fabricated cards for payment. Parents paid fees reported as approximately 85 dollars for pediatric cards and 220 to 350 dollars for adult cards. Her actions appear driven by a desire for substantial financial profit at a time when many families sought ways to navigate evolving school and public health requirements.
Authorities arrested DeVuono in January 2022 following a joint investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney office the Suffolk County Police Department and federal health inspectors. She entered a guilty plea in September 2023 to multiple felony charges including forgery money laundering and offering a false instrument for filing. Court proceedings resulted in a June 2024 sentence that imposed five year probation completion of 840 hours community service surrender of all nursing licenses closure of the practice and forfeiture of more than 1.2 million dollars in criminal proceeds. She had also laundered some funds including a transfer used to pay off a home mortgage.
The New York State Department of Health announced and imposed the 544000 dollar civil penalty on July 9 2026. This fine stands as the largest ever assessed by the department for vaccination related fraud over its 125 year history and applies in addition to the prior criminal penalties. Department officials have deleted the false immunization data from the official registry. Families impacted by the scheme were required to obtain valid documentation from alternative providers before their children could return to or remain in school.
This situation highlights the critical role of accurate medical record keeping in protecting public health and the severe repercussions that follow when professionals abuse their authority and access to state systems. The multi year investigation and layered penalties reflect a commitment by law enforcement and health regulators to address fraud that could undermine community protection against preventable illnesses. Schools and parents rely on trustworthy systems and this case serves as a reminder of the need for careful verification of all submitted immunization documents. The New York State Department of Health continues to provide guidance to schools on spotting potential fraudulent records and offers channels for reporting suspected cases.
