CRIME

Utah man sentenced to prison for creating, selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards

Oct 11, 2024, 8:20 PM

Nicholas Frank Sciotto poses next to piles of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards in 2021. The Salt Lak...

Nicholas Frank Sciotto poses next to piles of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards in 2021. The Salt Lake man was sentenced to a year in prison Thursday for selling over 120,000 of them during the pandemic. (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)

(U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah man was sentenced for manufacturing and selling 120,000 counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination record cards across the United States in 2021.

On Thursday, Nicholas Frank Sciotto, 34, of Salt Lake City, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, and ordered by the court to pay a $40,000 fine after pleading guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States according to court documents.

In July, Sciotto admitted to defrauding the CDC by making fake vaccination cards and earning approximately $400,000 in profit in 2021, according to federal prosecutors.

Documents stated Sciotto made a fake badge under the guise of volunteering with a major COVID-19 testing company in Utah to trick a print shop worker into printing thousands of copies of vaccination cards.

More of the fake vaccination cards sold by Sciotto.

More of the fake vaccination cards sold by Sciotto. (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)

“On Facebook, Sciotto sold each card for $10 with a 10 card minimum per order, plus $5 for shipping and directed buyers to a mobile payment service to complete the transaction,” according to court documents.

Documents stated that Sciotto worked with Kyle Blake Burbage, 33, of Goose Creek, South Carolina, to distribute the cards. Burbage pleaded guilty in August 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29.

KSL 5 TV Live

Crime

Police lights...

Jacob Freeman

Bar fight with ’30 to 40 people’ injures two officers, six arrested

A bar fight near 1700 South Main Street injured two Salt Lake City police officers early Saturday morning.

6 minutes ago

Video of the burglar peaking inside of one of the West Valley City homes that was broken into....

Pat Reavy, KSL.com

Police arrest suspected serial burglar linked to at least 8 West Valley City break-Ins

A man with a history of breaking into homes and garages, taking items and selling them at pawn shops has been arrested following a rash of burglaries in West Valley City.

16 hours ago

Crime scene investigators are seen at the fatal Ogden hit-and-run on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (KSL...

Jacob Freeman

Ogden hit-and-run driver washed car ‘just feet from victim’ after accident, police say

The driver in an Ogden parking lot hit-and-run that killed one washed his car "just feet from the victim" after the accident, police said.

16 hours ago

Emergency lights...

Jacob Freeman

Gunshots reported at Halloween party near University of Utah

An investigation has been launched after gunshots were heard at a large party near the University of Utah just before midnight on Halloween, police said.

20 hours ago

(KSL TV)...

Carlysle Price

Police: Shots fired during armed robbery investigation

An officer-involved shooting occurred Thursday night while police were investigating two armed robberies.

21 hours ago

FILE PHOTO: Utah Highway Patrol...

Brianna Chavez

UHP increasing presence on roads during Halloween weekend to stop DUI drivers

The Utah Highway Patrol is urging drivers to find a sober ride or drive sober for Halloween.

1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

abstract vector digital social network technology background...

Les Olson

Protecting yourself against social engineering attacks

Learn more about the common types of social engineering to protect your online or offline assets from an attack.

family having fun at home...

Lighting Design

Discover the impact of lighting on your mood

From color temperature to lighting saturation, we tackle how different lighting design setups can impact your day-to-day mood.

Laptops in a modern technology store. Department of computers in the electronics store. Choosing a ...

PC Laptops

How to choose the best laptop for college students

Finding the right laptop for college students can be hard, but with this guide we break down what to look for so you can find the best one.

young male technician is repairing a printer at office...

Les Olson

Unraveling the dilemma between leasing and buying office technology

Carefully weigh these pros and cons to make an informed decision that best suits your business growth and day-to-day operation. 

A kitchen in a modern farmhouse....

Lighting Design

A room-by-room lighting guide for your home

Bookmark this room-by-room lighting guide whenever you decide to upgrade your lighting or style a new home.

Photo courtesy of Artists of Ballet West...

Ballet West

The rising demand for ballet tickets: why they’re harder to get

Ballet West’s box office is experiencing demand they’ve never seen before, leaving many interested patrons unable to secure tickets they want.

Utah man sentenced to prison for creating, selling fake COVID-19 vaccination cards