Julie DeVuono's case witnessed a new development when she was issued a civil penalty by the New York State Department of Health on July 9, 2026.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleJulie DeVuono was in the headlines a few years ago when she was taken into custody with her employee, Marissa Urraro, in 2022. The duo was accused of selling fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards and entering false information into New York State’s immunisation database.
Notably, both women reportedly earned profits worth USD 1.5 million in the entire scheme, where parents paid them to receive the vaccine cards without their children getting the shots. The case recently witnessed a new development, where the New York State Department of Health issued a civil penalty worth USD 544,000 to Julie on July 9, 2026.
Julie DeVuono was the owner and operator of Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare in Amityville, New York. The former pediatric nurse practitioner conducted her medical practice under a corporation called Kids-On-Call. She served as a school nurse in the past.
Julie first came into the headlines in 2022 when she was arrested with Marissa Urraro. The duo was charged with second-degree forgery, with Julie facing a first-degree charge of offering a false instrument for filing. The New York State Department of Health provided COVID-19 vaccines, vaccination cards, and syringes to Julie and Marissa. However, the duo forged the cards to show that a vaccine was given to someone, although they never received it.
The duo charged a particular amount by using the false cards, which was USD 220 for adults and USD 85 for children. The authorities were able to recover documents that had proof of profits worth USD 1.5 million from the scheme that was active between 2021 and 2022.
Marissa and Julie reportedly obtained the blank cards from the latter’s company, Wild Child Pediatric Healthcare. The authorities also obtained cash worth USD 900,000 during their investigation, along with other cash that was stored in helmet bags.
Julie DeVuono pleaded guilty to forging the vaccination cards and using the proceeds of the sales of the cards for her personal benefit. She even pleaded guilty to a charge of offering a false instrument for filing. A press release revealed that while the adults were charged USD 220 in the beginning, the rate increased to USD 350 by 2022.
An investigation by the District Attorney’s Office found another scheme linked to Julie DeVuono. From 2019 to 2021, she allegedly sent fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone to pharmacies across Suffolk County. The prescriptions were written for people who were not her patients, and some of them were family members.
As per the 2023 press release, after Julie pleaded guilty, she had to surrender her license as a Nurse Practitioner and a Registered Professional Nurse to the New York State Department of Education. She was restricted from practising in the medical field in New York. Julie DeVuono also had to surrender her certificate of incorporation as a professional service corporation in New York State.
Back in June 2024, Julie was sentenced to six months and five years of probation. She was ordered to complete community service of 840 hours during her probation alongside paying a fine of USD 15,000. A new press release from the New York State Department of Health on July 9, 2026, revealed that they have removed all the false immunisation details that were entered into records over the last two years. While the health department issued a new civil penalty, State Health Commissioner, Dr James McDonald said:
“Vaccines are the best protection against serious preventable disease, 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. 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.”
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