7 plead guilty to forging nursing transcripts

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Seven people have pleaded guilty in Northern California to using transcripts in order to become registered nurses.

Department of Consumer Affairs Cristina Valdivia Aguilar said in a statement Friday that the seven face up to three years in prison for forging transcripts from the Philippines.

They are identified as Juan Malaluan Tenorio Jr. and Glyn Cordova Villegas of Kern County,James Quijano Leoncio of Orange County, Philip Tolentino Sarmiento, Laurence Viernes, and German Zagada and Jude Dagza Leoncio of Los Angeles County.

Aguilar said all seven were arrested as a result of a probe involving her agency's investigation division, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, and theInternal Revenue Service.

All seven are expected to be sentenced on June 27.