Profiles · Fraud defendants
- Type
- Person
- Role
- Defendant
- Programs
- PPP
- Updated
The profile
A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man charged as part of a nationwide PPP fraud scheme that sought more than $24 million and disbursed over $17 million. The scheme also swept in a recording artist, Diamond Blue Smith, and a former NFL player, Joshua Bellamy.
Identity and role
Ross Charno, 46, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was one of at least nine co-defendants charged in a PPP fraud scheme, with a related complaint captioned out of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
The scheme and pandemic-relief role
According to the Department of Justice, the scheme sought more than $24 million and disbursed at least $17.4 million in fraudulent PPP loans; the Northern District of Ohio release notes two Ohio entities in the scheme fraudulently obtained approximately $875,000. Other defendants named alongside Charno in the same scheme included recording artist Diamond Blue Smith and former NFL player Joshua Bellamy, per DOJ.
Legal status / controversies
- Charged: by criminal complaint filed June 24, 2020, on wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
- Sentenced: to two years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Ohio's January 19, 2023 release on co-defendant Deon D. Levy's sentencing (United States v. Charno et al., No. 1:21-cr-00806 (N.D. Ohio)).
Where they are now (2025–2026)
Not publicly documented beyond the two-year sentence reported in January 2023.
Related profiles
Sources
- DOJ, "Nine Charged in $24 Million COVID Relief Fraud Scheme" — original: DOJ, "Nine Charged in $24 Million COVID Relief Fraud Scheme" (original: justice.gov)
- DOJ USAO-NDOH, "Nine Charged in $24 Million COVID Relief Fraud Scheme" — original: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/nine-charged-24-million-covid-relief-fraud-scheme
- DOJ, "Florida Recording Artist and Pennsylvania Man Charged for Role in $24 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme" — original: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/florida-recording-artist-and-pennsylvania-man-charged-role-24-million-covid-relief-fraud
- DOJ, "Former NFL Player Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for COVID-19 Relief Fraud" (Dec. 10, 2021): 2021 12 10 Former Nfl Player Sentenced To More Than Three Years In Prison For Covid D37a3ba4 (original: justice.gov)
- DOJ USAO-NDOH, "Owner of Two Northeast Ohio Businesses Sentenced to Prison for PPP Loan Fraud" (Jan. 19, 2023): 2023 01 19 Owner Of Two Northeast Ohio Businesses Sentenced To Prison For PPP Loan C2435258 (original: justice.gov)
- PACER docket report, United States v. Charno et al., N.D. Ohio No. 1:21-cr-00806