Geralda Adrien, Selling Fake Nursing Diplomas, Florida 2024

MIAMI, FL – A Florida pair, Geralda Adrien and Woosvelt Predestin, has been charged with selling fake nursing diplomas to unsuspecting individuals for $16,000 each, according to federal prosecutors. The pair worked for PowerfulU Health Care Services LLC, a company that advertises itself as a group of nurses and doctors who want to empower men and women by helping them become healthcare providers.

Adrien, 51, is the president of PowerfulU, while Predestin, 35, is an employee. The indictment alleges that they assisted various individuals in procuring fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts from two nursing schools in Florida by falsely documenting that the individuals had completed the necessary courses and/or clinicals to obtain nursing degrees.

According to the indictment, Adrien and Predestin met with an individual at the PowerfulU office on March 18, 2021, and offered to sell the person a false degree for $16,000. Adrien allegedly explained that for the amount, she would process the applicant through a Florida nursing school that was either on probation or closed, making it appear as if the applicant had in fact attended the school.

Adrien also offered to help the individual pass the nursing board certification exam and recommended that they take the exam in New York, as that state allows for unlimited attempts to pass. She allegedly filled out the application for the individual and completed two continuing education unit classes required to apply for admission to the New York nursing board.

After the individual paid for the false nursing degree, Adrien provided a backdated diploma indicating completion of an Associate Degree in Science of Nursing and a fraudulent transcript that falsely reflected that the individual had completed approximately 72 credit hours and achieved a grade point average of 3.4. The individual’s application for licensure, which Predestin helped complete, was later forwarded to the New York State Education Department.

The indictment charges Adrien and Predestin each with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. They face up to 20 years in federal prison on each count.

The case was investigated by the FBI Miami and HHS-OIG, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Clark. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling the asset forfeiture component of the case.

As the indictment is merely a charging document, Adrien and Predestin are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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