Police: Hundreds Given Fake Diplomas at Fake Norcross School

Charges have been filed against a couple who are accused of issuing fake diplomas to hundreds of students from a Norcross-area school.

In fact, police said the school is fake, too, and used the name of a real school elsewhere in Georgia to defraud its students.

Gwinnett Police said in a news release that Stanley Jean, 43, and Yessica Jean, 36, have each been charged with 20 counts of financial identity fraud. They were not in custody as of Friday afternoon.

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.

Last month, WSB-TV reported dozens of students attending classes in a Jimmy Carter Boulevard office building received notices that their diplomas weren’t valid, possibly affecting some of the students’ immigration standings (see report below).

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

Detectives have been contacted by more than 200 victims so far.

“Students paid $500 to $800 each for the GED program and approximately $5,000 each for the medical assistant program.” Gwinnett Police Cpl. Jake Smith said in the news release. “Several students were able to obtain employment, ignorant of the fact that their documents were fraudulent.”

The financial identity fraud charges stem from the couple’s use of the real New Life Technical Academy’s identity for financial gain.