Lehigh Acres Couple Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud
Summary
A U.S. Attorney’s Office press release for the Middle District of Florida, published March 16, 2022, headed Lehigh Acres Couple Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud. United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Amber Rewis Bruey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and illegal monetary transactions, and that co-conspirator Anthony James Bruey previously pleaded guilty to the same charges on February 4, 2022. According to court documents, the Brueys conspired to submit a total of 26 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications, and 12 of the loans were approved, with $881,058.35 disbursed. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
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“Lehigh Acres Couple Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud.”
Original at www.justice.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2022-03-16-lehigh-acres-couple-pleads-guilty-to-covid-relief-fraud-fc5-a4628baddb/
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Fort Myers, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Amber Rewis Bruey (35, Lehigh Acres) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and illegal monetary transactions. Her husband and co-conspirator, Anthony James Bruey, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges on February 4, 2022. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Defendant Charge Maximum Penalty per Count Amber Rewis Bruey Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud 30 years in federal prison Wire Fraud (10 Counts) 30 years in federal prison Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering 10 years in federal prison Illegal Monetary Transactions (4 Counts) 10 years in federal prison Anthony James Bruey Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud 30 years in federal prison Wire Fraud (2 Counts) 30 years in federal prison Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering 10 years in federal prison Illegal Monetary Transactions (2 Counts) 10 years in federal prison According to court documents, between April 2020 and June 2020, the Brueys conspired to submit a total of 26 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications to Small Business Administration (SBA) approved lenders, loan processing companies, and the SBA. The applications contained numerous false and fraudulent representations, including the applicant’s dates of operation, payroll, gross revenues, total number of employees, and the criminal histories of the applicants or business owners. The Brueys’ false and fraudulent representations caused PPP lenders and the SBA to approve 12 of the loans and disburse a total of $881,058.35 in PPP and EIDL funds. The Brueys then unlawfully used the funds to purchase a $211,457 residence in North Carolina, a 2019 GMC Yukon SUV, a 2020 Honda Talon, and to make a $23,566 restitution payment as a condition of probation in a criminal court case for Amber Bruey. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and uses at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses. The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relied to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trent Reichling and Suzanne Nebesky.
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