Monrovia — SpoonTV CEO Stanton Witherspoon has offered a detailed account of how his decision to cooperate with U.S. federal investigators ultimately helped secure his release from prison after he was convicted in a multimillion-dollar scheme involving fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
Witherspoon, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced in November 2023 to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
But on September 9, 2026, U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith granted a motion by federal prosecutors to reduce the sentence to time served, eliminating the supervised-release requirement and dismissing the remaining counts against him.
The reduction was granted under Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which allows prosecutors to seek a reduced sentence for a defendant who provides substantial assistance to the government after sentencing.
Witherspoon said Thursday that his cooperation was not simply a strategy to obtain a shorter sentence, but a decision he made after his lawyer and one of his Spoon Talk colleagues advised him that cooperating early could benefit his case and help investigators pursue others involved in the alleged fraud.
‘Cooperate’
Recounting the events on Spoon Talk, Witherspoon said panelist Abdullah Kiatamba advised him in 2023 to consider cooperating with investigators.
According to Witherspoon, Kiatamba told him that he was not making a judgment about his guilt or innocence but was speaking from his understanding of the U.S. legal system.
“He said, no matter what you do, I’m going to talk to you from experience. Cooperate,” Witherspoon recalled.
Witherspoon said he initially questioned the advice.
“I said, what are you talking about? He said, Stanton, I’m not saying you are guilty. I’m not saying you are not guilty. But I know the system. Talk to your lawyer.”
He said he followed the advice and consulted his attorney, who also recommended that he cooperate with investigators at an early stage.
According to Witherspoon, his lawyer warned that delaying cooperation could diminish its value if other defendants cooperated first.
“Every other day, the lawyer would say, Stanton, if you’re the last to cooperate, you are not needed. If you must cooperate, cooperate now,” he recalled.
Witherspoon said his lawyer subsequently explained the cooperation process and its potential implications to him step by step.
What Prosecutors Say He Provided
The government’s court filings indicate that Witherspoon’s cooperation went beyond simply providing information about his own conduct.
According to prosecutors, he was interviewed by agents from the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General about individuals involved in nursing-school fraud schemes.
Prosecutors said his cooperation contributed to cases against several defendants, including Carleen Noreus, Cimoyne Alves, Lemuel Pierre and Cleophat Tanis.
Witherspoon testified against Noreus, who operated a separate fraudulent nursing program known as Carleen Health Institute. Following his testimony, prosecutors said Noreus pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money-laundering conspiracy charges and is awaiting sentencing.
Witherspoon also signed an affidavit identifying nursing students who received fraudulent degrees and transcripts. That information was provided to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing so state licensing authorities could take remedial action.
‘I Was a Star Witness’
Witherspoon described himself as a key witness for the government, saying investigators needed information and supporting documents that he possessed because of his involvement in the nursing-school business.
He said he had recruited students for multiple schools and therefore had knowledge of people involved in the operation.
“Now they have so many big, big people that were involved in this thing. And a lot of them came to me to recruit students for them,” Witherspoon said.
He said investigators already knew some of the individuals but needed additional evidence.
“The government knew them, but the government needed supporting documents from me.”
According to Witherspoon, one of the principal defendants initially refused to cooperate, leading prosecutors to call him to testify.
“I had to take the stand for the government. For four months, the woman couldn’t break. And the government called a star witness. And I was a star witness.”
Witherspoon said that after he testified, the defendant subsequently agreed to plead guilty.
“After I testified, the next day, the woman begged for the plea. She’s scheduled to be sentenced. It’s a public record.”
The account corresponds with prosecutors’ description of Witherspoon’s cooperation in the case involving Noreus.
A $5.17 Million Fraud
Federal prosecutors said Witherspoon was a 50% owner of Siena Education Center LLC and Siena College of Health II LLC and was also the founder and president of Nursing Education Resource Center LLC.
Prosecutors alleged that Witherspoon, working with Rene Bernadel, Alfred Sellu and Cimoyne Alves, used NERC to recruit and fraudulently train aspiring nurses.
He later worked with Eunide Sanon and Siena to provide fake nursing diplomas and transcripts, which students allegedly used to obtain fraudulent certification as registered nurses or licensed practical nurses.
Witherspoon was held responsible for approximately $5.17 million in losses.
His total offense level was calculated at 26, with a criminal history category of I, producing a federal sentencing guideline range of 63 to 78 months. He ultimately received a 41-month sentence.
‘I Wanted This to Stop’
Witherspoon said his decision to cooperate was motivated by more than his own legal circumstances.
He said he wanted to expose the broader operation and help prevent others from being harmed by fraudulent nursing credentials.
“I had to do it not because I was fighting for myself. I had to do it because I wanted this to stop,” he said.
“I had to do it because I want the system to be right.”
Witherspoon said the information he possessed was extensive and involved conversations with professionals and others connected to the business.
He also thanked his attorney for guiding him through the cooperation process.
Prosecutors Backed Sentence Reduction
The government’s motion to reduce Witherspoon’s sentence was supported by prosecutors and investigators from the FBI and HHS-OIG, who cited the scope of his cooperation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Clark filed the motion on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Judge Rodney Smith subsequently ordered Witherspoon released on time served and removed the three-year supervised-release component of his original sentence.
The remaining counts against him—Counts 2 through 6 and Count 8—were dismissed.
For Witherspoon, the sequence of events—from advice to cooperate, through interviews and testimony, to the government’s Rule 35(b) motion—ultimately culminated in his release.
“Yes, indeed, I cooperated with the government. And that’s why I took a plea. And today, the result of the plea is that Stanton is a free man,” he said.
He ended his account by thanking his lawyer and those who supported him during his legal battle.
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