United States v. Ernest Bernard Gonder, Jr. — U.S. District Court, S.D. Fla.

Case summary

Ernest Bernard Gonder, Jr. was charged by information on January 5, 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, No. 0:24-cr-60003-KMW, and pleaded guilty to counts 1 and 2, wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The factual proffer states that he submitted false and fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans from the Small Business Administration through Cross River Bank, and a false application for forgiveness of a PPP loan, supported by a falsified 2020 Internal Revenue Service Form 941. Sentence was imposed May 29, 2024 and judgment entered June 6, 2024: five years' probation on each count, including ten months of home detention and 500 hours of community service, a $200 assessment, a $5,500 fine and restitution.

Case at a glance

What did the factual proffer describe?

Applications for PPP loans submitted to the SBA through Cross River Bank of Fort Lee, New Jersey on behalf of Gonder as a limited liability company, carrying false information about the borrower's payroll and number of employees, and supported by a falsified 2020 IRS Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return Form 941.

What was forfeited?

Under the plea agreement Gonder agreed to a forfeiture money judgment of $168,248.41 and to forfeiture of the real property at 1621 NW 2nd Ave., Pompano Beach, Florida as substitute property in satisfaction of it. A preliminary order of forfeiture was entered March 19, 2024, a stipulation and settlement agreement on the real property was approved February 10, 2026, and a final order of forfeiture was entered June 2, 2026.

Has the money judgment been paid?

A notice filed June 3, 2026 gives notice of partial satisfaction of the forfeiture money judgment.

Summary written from the documents on this page; every sentence is sourced.