Greenburgh nurse practitioner admits to student loan fraud

A nurse practitioner from Greenburgh has admitted orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme in which she used falsified doctor certifications of disabilities to get $10.5 million in student loans discharged for people she convinced were entitled to have the loans wiped out.

Catherine Seemer, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday in White Plains federal court to wire fraud, financial aid fraud and aggravated identity theft.

She told U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel that she "knowingly and willingly" defrauded the U.S. Department of Education's Total and Permanent Disability Discharge Program that is designed to forgive student loans for recipients who are permanently disabled.

Between June 2017 and March 2022, Seemer submitted applications for loan relief on behalf of more than 100 borrowers. The applications claimed non-existent disabilities that Seemer cited using the credentials and forged signatures of doctors who had never met the borrowers and did not consent to Seemer using their identities.

Seemer's sentencing was scheduled for September. She has agreed not to appeal any prison term below or equal to the expected guideline range of 70 to 81 months. She also faces a fine of up to $200,000 and must repay the approximately $635,000 she made in fees from the borrowers who had their loans excused.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Greenburgh NY nurse practitioner admits to student loan fraud