Long Island nurse hit with record $544K fine for fake COVID vaccine scheme

A Long Island nurse who orchestrated a $1.5 million scheme to sell fake COVID-19 vaccination cards has been hit with a record $544,000 civil penalty from the New York State Department of Health, marking the largest fine ever imposed for vaccination fraud in the agency’s 125-year history. Julie DeVuono, 53, former owner of Wild Child Pediatric Center in Amityville, admitted to falsifying immunization records for 162 school-aged children between November 2019 and January 2022, exploiting a federal vaccine distribution system to defraud patients and undermine public health safeguards.

DeVuono’s operation involved receiving 3,174 doses of vaccines through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) but discarding them instead of administering them. She then charged parents $220 to $350 per adult dose and $85 for children, falsely documenting the vaccinations on official cards. Investigators uncovered that she laundered $236,980 of the proceeds to pay off the mortgage on a home she shared with her husband, an NYPD officer. The scheme collapsed in January 2022 after law enforcement raided her clinic, seizing $900,000 in cash and detailed ledgers of transactions.

The state’s penalty follows DeVuono’s 2023 guilty plea to felony forgery and money laundering, which included falsifying records for routine childhood vaccines such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, and hepatitis B. These vaccines are required for daycare, pre-kindergarten, and school enrollment in New York. The New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS) later identified over 1,500 falsified entries, prompting the Department of Health to invalidate records for approximately 135 children and 35 additional students after a broader review of school districts. Families faced challenges in proving immunization compliance, with some students barred from school until valid records were submitted.

DeVuono avoided prison time, instead receiving 840 hours of community service, five years of probation, and a $1.2 million forfeiture order as part of her criminal sentence. The $544,000 civil penalty, imposed after an administrative hearing in 2026, adds to the financial consequences of her crimes. State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized the department’s zero-tolerance stance, stating that falsifying vaccination records “puts lives in jeopardy” and undermines public health efforts. The penalty also reflects the agency’s expanded role in addressing vaccine fraud, which has led to ongoing collaborations with schools, law enforcement, and federal investigators.

The case has drawn scrutiny for its scale and the exploitation of pandemic-era fears. Prosecutors noted that DeVuono’s actions targeted parents seeking to bypass vaccination requirements, leveraging her position as a healthcare provider to deceive both patients and state databases. Two co-defendants—licensed practical nurse Marissa Urraro and receptionist Brooke Hogan—testified against her as part of plea agreements, aiding the investigation that revealed the extent of the fraud. The Department of Health has since urged families to verify immunization records and report suspected fraud through its dedicated email address, STOPVAXFRAUD@health.ny.gov.

DeVuono’s scheme not only enriched her but also created long-term complications for the healthcare system. The invalidation of thousands of records forced schools and medical providers to revalidate immunizations, straining resources and eroding trust in public health infrastructure. The case underscores the risks of vaccine fraud, which can compromise disease prevention efforts and create gaps in pediatric care. As New York continues to combat such schemes, officials have reiterated the importance of accurate vaccination data in protecting communities from preventable illnesses.