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Two Long Island nurses have been charged with forging COVID-19 vaccination cards and entering false information into the New York State Immunization Information System database.

Julie DeVuono, 49, owner of in Amityville, New York, and her employee, Marissa Urraro, 44, allegedly brought in some $1.5 million by selling fake vaccination cards. Authorities seized about $900,000 in cash and logs suggesting that they had been running the scheme since November.

Their clients paid $85 for each pediatric card and $220 for each adult card.

DeVuono, a nurse practitioner, and Urraro, a licensed practical nurse, secured vaccine doses, vaccination cards, and syringes via the New York State Department of Health, reported.

Undercover detectives purchased the fake cards, but were never issued the vaccines, according to reports.

DeVuono and Urraro were arrested on January 21. They pleaded not guilty and were later released without bail. Both are scheduled to appear in a county district court on February 8.

DeVuono's husband, an NYPD officer, is under investigation for potentially funneling business to his wife, according to reports.

"These individuals allegedly used their positions as licensed healthcare professionals to engage in criminal conduct for their financial benefit," Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said in a statement. "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."

"Forging COVID-19 vaccination cards and entering false information into the New York State database used to track vaccination records puts the health and well-being of others at risk, and undermines efforts to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus," special agent Scott Lampert said in a statement announcing the charges.

Urraro's attorney, Michael J. Alber, told the that his client is "a respected license practical nurse who has led an exemplary career."

"From our preliminary investigation, there are defects in the investigation and legal impediments to how the case came about," he added.

"An accusation should not overshadow the good work Ms. Urraro has done for children and adults in the medical field," Alber said in a statement.

DeVuono's attorney, Barry Mark Smolowitz, told the that his client is asking for a jury trial, noting that it is too early in the case to comment more extensively.

DeVuono has helped pediatric patients avoid other vaccinations, the Post reported, by advertising vaccine exemption workshops, among other tactics.

Yvonne Gamble, a spokeswoman for the HHS Office of Inspector General, that fake cards "can jeopardize efforts to address the ongoing public health emergency."

"Therefore, we encourage the public to obtain valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination from their administering medical providers instead of creating fake vaccination cards or purchasing them from unauthorized sources," she added.

In December, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) signed a bill making false vaccine card production and usage a crime.

DeVuono has worked in primary care pediatrics for 15 years and in pediatric or neonatal intensive care units for 10 years, according to her practice's Facebook profile. She has been a licensed nurse in New York since 2002, according to the .

番茄社区 could not find an active license for Urraro in the board's online database or in the national database .

Neither has been disciplined by the board, according to online records.

A post on Wild Child's Facebook profile thanked followers for their "outpouring of support at this difficult time." The practice is temporarily closed, according to

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