*UPDATED* AMITYVILLE PEDIATRIC OFFICE OWNER AND AN EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR FORGING COVID-19 VACCINATION RECORDS

*UPDATED FEB. 1, 2022*

On Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, Brooke Hogan, a receptionist at Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare was arrested for acting in concert with DeVuono and Urraro for allegedly forging COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards. Hogan, 29 of Patchogue,  is charged with Forgery in the Second Degree (Class D Felony). She was arraigned on Saturday, Jan. 29 and was released on her own recognizance.  Hogan is due back in court on Feb. 8.

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that the owner and operator of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare in Amityville along with one other employee have been arrested and arraigned on a complaint charging them with forging COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards and entering the false information into the New York State Immunization Information System (“NYSIIS”) database.

“These individuals allegedly used their positions as licensed healthcare professionals to engage in criminal conduct for their financial benefit,” said Tierney. “This fraudulent scheme was uncovered thanks to the hard work of the members of the Suffolk County Police Department DA’s squad assigned to my office.  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.”  DA Tierney also thanked the agents and investigators from the United States Department of Health and Human Services and New York State Department of Health for their assistance.

“As nurses, these two individuals should understand the importance of legitimate vaccination cards as we all work together to protect public health,” said Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney K. Harrison. “This is another example of great investigative police work by the SCPD and I commend District Attorney Tierney for his partnership.”

“We are committed to helping the country get through the COVID-19 health crisis, but public safety comes first,” said Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s New York Region (HHS-OIG).  “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.  HHS-OIG and our law enforcement partners will remain vigilant in our efforts to root out all related fraud schemes during this ongoing public health emergency.”

Julie DeVuono, 49, the owner and operator of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare and her employee Marissa Urraro, 44, are each charged with one count of Forgery in the second degree (a D Felony) and DeVuono is charged with an additional count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the first degree (an E Felony).

During a court-authorized search of DeVuono’s home, law enforcement officers seized approximately $900,000 in U.S. currency along with a ledger documenting profits in excess of $1.5 million from the alleged illegal activity for the time period of November 2021 to January 2022. 

DeVuono, a Nurse Practitioner, and Urraro, a License Practical Nurse, allegedly used their positions to obtain COVID-19 vaccines, along with COVID-19 vaccination cards and medical syringes, from New York State Department of Health.   

During their arraignment, prosecutors alleged DeVuono and Urraro are accused of forging the COVID-19 vaccine cards to indicate a vaccine was given to an undercover detective on one or more occasions when, in fact, the vaccine was never administered.  DeVuono and Urraro thereafter allegedly entered the false information into NYSIIS.  The cost for each false entry was $220 for adults and $85 for children. 

The Suffolk County Police DA Squad, acting with assistance from Federal Agents from the United States Department of Health and Human Services and Investigators from New York State Department of Health, conducted court-authorized searches at Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare located at 176B Park Avenue in Amityville as well as at DuVuono’s residence also located in Amityville. 

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Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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