ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — Two certified nurse midwives and a nurse are accused of distributing forged COVID vaccination cards, including to minors, according to a federal indictment
Kelly McDermott, 61, whowho owns Sage-Femme Midwifery PLLC, andKathleen Breault, 65, a nurse midwife that works there, are accused of conspiring to have the business registered as a vaccination clinic.
They are accused of distributing fake vaccination cards to those that were not vaccinated. They are also accused, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, of handing out vaccination cards for minors that were not eligible at the time for vaccination, as well as non-United States citizens who were not in the country at the time of the documented vaccination.
The New York State Department of Health said DOH officials identified the possible fraud at Sage-Femme Midwifery and initiated an investigation.
DOH says the allegations against McDermott and Breault are related to the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine. DOH says the state only administered a small number of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, compared to doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
Also charged with conspiracy to defraud was 41-year-oldSherilyn Pellitter, alicensed practical nurse with Sage-Femme Midwifery.
...the defendants’ fraud turned it into one of the busiest vaccination sites in New York State, outpacing large, state-run vaccination sites," according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In addition, they're accused of destroyingvials of COVID-19 vaccines.