Amityville woman pleads not guilty to upgraded charges in $1.5M COVID-19 vaccine card fraud case.

Nurse practitioner Julie DeVuono of Amityville pleaded not guilty to felony charges of money laundering, forgery of a government document, and offering a false instrument, as well as misdemeanor conspiracy, in an alleged $1.5 million fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination card scheme. DeVuono's attorney blamed "COVID hysteria" and two subordinates for the illegal activity, while prosecutors allege that DeVuono directed a practical nurse to fake giving shots to patients who would then receive a vaccine card in exchange for cash. The shots were then falsely reported to the state. DeVuono's corporation, Kids-On-Call Pediatric Nurse Practitioner PC, has also been indicted.