Amityville, New York — A former pediatric nurse practitioner has been ordered to pay the largest civil penalty in the 125-year history of the New York State Department of Health after authorities determined she falsified vaccination records for more than 160 school-aged children.
On July 9, the New York State Department of Health announced that 53-year-old Julie DeVuono was assessed a $544,000 civil penalty following an investigation into a vaccination fraud scheme that authorities say undermined public health and placed children and communities at risk.
Officials Say Hundreds of Vaccine Records Were Falsified
According to the Department of Health’s Bureau of Investigations, DeVuono submitted hundreds of fraudulent pediatric immunization records for vaccines that were never actually administered.
Investigators said the false records included not only COVID-19 vaccinations, but also several routine childhood immunizations, including vaccines that protect against chickenpox, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B and polio.
Health officials said the fraudulent records were entered into the New York State Immunization Information System (NYSIIS), creating the appearance that children had received required vaccinations when they had not.
State Health Officials Condemn the Fraud
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said the department remains committed to protecting the integrity of New York’s vaccination system.
“Vaccines are the best protection against serious preventable diseases, and the New York State Department of Health has zero tolerance for those that misrepresent or falsify vaccination records as these acts put lives in jeopardy.”
He added:
“Make no mistake, the Department will investigate and hold those accountable who so brazenly undermine our public health system and endanger the health and safety of our communities.”
Previous Criminal Case Led to Guilty Plea
The civil penalty follows DeVuono’s criminal case, in which she pleaded guilty in September 2023 to charges including money laundering, forgery and offering a false instrument for filing.
She was sentenced in 2024 after prosecutors alleged she forged COVID-19 vaccination cards and laundered money generated through the illegal scheme.
Authorities also accused her of issuing opioid prescriptions to individuals who were not her patients, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
As part of her sentence, DeVuono was required to surrender her nursing license, forfeit $1.2 million connected to the scheme, and serve five years of probation.
Families Were Required to Verify Children’s Immunizations
Officials said the fraudulent activity occurred between June 15, 2021, and January 27, 2022.
While the scheme affected families across parts of New York, investigators said most of the false vaccination records involved children from Long Island and the Hudson Valley, although cases also extended into New York City and the Capital District.
According to authorities, families whose children received fraudulent records were contacted and required to provide valid proof of immunization before students were permitted to return to school. Officials also directed families not to list DeVuono as their healthcare provider.
Investigators further alleged that DeVuono charged between $220 and $350 for fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and false entries into the state’s immunization database, with proceeds allegedly used for personal expenses, including paying off the mortgage on her Amityville home.
The record-setting civil penalty marks one of the state’s most significant enforcement actions involving fraudulent vaccination records and reflects New York officials’ continued efforts to protect the integrity of public health reporting.
What are your thoughts on this case? Should penalties for falsifying medical records be even tougher, or do you believe the current consequences are sufficient? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
