Bond Denied to Couple Accused of Issuing Fake Diplomas

The couple charged with issuing hundreds of fake diplomas from a Norcross-area school was denied bond Tuesday in Gwinnett County.

Chief Magistrate Judge Kristina Blum ruled Stanley and Yessica Jean will remain in the Gwinnett County jail because they are a flight risk and could possibly intimidate witnesses, the Gwinnett Daily Post reported.

>>Read more here

The Smyrna couple was arrested on Dec. 16 and charged with 20 counts each of financial identity fraud, according to jail records.

Police issued warrants for the Jeans on Dec. 12, alleging the couple gave out the fake diplomas from a fake school that used the name of a real school elsewhere in Georgia to defraud its students.

Police said the married couple used the name “New Life Technical Academy” to graduate more than 800 students in bogus GED and Medical Assistant programs. The real New Life Technical Academy is located in Hapeville, Ga., just south of the City of Atlanta.

Police said students attended classes, had graduation ceremonies and received diplomas.

Detectives have been contacted by hundreds of possible victims.

Students paid $500 to $800 each for the GED program and approximately $5,000 each for the medical assistant program, police said.

Many more charges are possible as the investigation continues.

(Photo: Stanley Carol Jean and Yessica Dinorah Jean. Gwinnett County jail mug shots)

>>Stay on top of Patch’s local coverage by subscribing to the daily Peachtree Corners Patch newsletter