Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud (January 17, 2023)
Summary
A press release of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida, dated Tuesday, January 17, 2023, in which United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces results of the district's efforts against COVID-19 fraud. It states that since March 2020 the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force has prosecuted 52 individuals who collectively sought to defraud the United States of more than $58 million; Thirty-seven have been found guilty and prosecution is pending against fifteen others. Examples include the sentencing of Don V. Cisternino to eight years and six months over a PPP loan of more than $7.2 million, and an indictment alleging that Evan and Joshua Edwards received approximately $8,417,200 in PPP funds. The release reports forfeiture of more than $16.8 million and a chart of charged, adjudicated and sentenced cases.
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“Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud (January 17, 2023).”
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Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Middle District of Florida
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved by the
Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to COVID-19. Those efforts have included
complementary actions by the Criminal, Asset Recovery, and Civil Divisions, along with federal,
state, and local law enforcement agencies.
“The Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting the
integrity of government programs established to provide relief for those impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “These cases should serve as a warning to those who might
have engaged in similar fraudulent activity that holding those accountable for these crimes remains a
high priority for federal authorities.”
On the criminal enforcement front, the United States Attorney’s Office and federal, state, and local
law enforcement agencies joined together in March 2020 to form the Middle District of Florida
COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to identify, investigate, and prosecute fraud related to the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic. Since its inception, the task force has prosecuted 52 individuals for fraud
schemes designed to exploit federal programs created or expanded to address the COVID-19
pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Economic Injury Disaster Loans
(“EIDL”), Unemployment Insurance (“UI”), the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”), and the
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”). These individuals collectively sought to defraud
the United States of more than $58 million. Thirty-seven of those defendants have been found guilty,
while prosecution remains pending against fifteen others. (See chart for criminal case details.)
In one example, U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger sentenced Don V. Cisternino (47, Chuluota) to
eight years and six months in federal prison for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and illegal
monetary transaction related to Cisternino’s obtaining more than $7.2 million in emergency funds
through a PPP loan to which he was not entitled. Cisternino pleaded guilty on September 20, 2022,
after being extradited from Croatia.
In December 2022, U.S. Attorney Handberg announced the unsealing of a six-count indictment
charging Canadian citizens Evan Edwards (64, New Smyrna Beach) and Joshua Edwards (30, New
Smyrna Beach) with federal offenses related to the CARES Act and visa fraud. According to the
indictment, Evan and Joshua Edwards conspired to commit bank fraud and committed bank fraud
by submitting a fraudulent PPP loan on behalf of Aslan International Ministry, Inc. (“Aslan”)—a not-
for-profit corporation that purportedly provided religious services. In the loan application, the pair
significantly overstated the number of employees and average monthly payroll for Aslan, claiming
that it had almost 500 employees and over $2 million in average monthly payroll expenses. They also
falsely certified in the loan application that the PPP funds would be used to maintain payroll and for
other authorized purposes. Based on the false representations made in the loan application, Evan
and Joshua Edwards received into their bank account approximately $8,417,200 in PPP loan funds,
a portion of which they used to make a down payment for the attempted purchase of a multi-million-
dollar residence for themselves.
Further, the Asset Recovery Division and federal seizing agencies have completed the forfeiture of
more than $16.8 million of EIDL, UI, and PPP funds that were fraudulently obtained, depriving the
fraudsters of their ill-gotten gains and recovering the proceeds for the victims. More than $9.8
million in additional pandemic fraud proceeds have been seized and are pending civil or criminal
forfeiture.
The Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the
resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance
efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s
response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Through the PPP, the federal government authorized over $600 billion in forgivable loans to small
businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The EIDL program
provides economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of
revenue. The MSLP provided support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees
across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. UI programs provided unemployment
benefits to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own.
The criminal cases charged by the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force have been
investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, the Internal Revenue
Service—Criminal Investigation, the Department of Labor—Office of Inspector General, the U.S.
Postal Service, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Small Business Administration, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation—Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations
(HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Special Inspector General for
Pandemic Recovery, the Federal Reserve Board – Office of Inspector General, the Metropolitan
Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Manatee
County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office,
the Winter Park Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Seminole County
Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant
United States Attorneys throughout the Middle District of Florida.
The Department of Justice needs the public’s assistance in remaining vigilant and reporting
suspected fraudulent activity. To report suspected fraud, contact the National Center for Disaster
Fraud (NCDF) at (866) 720-5721 or file an online complaint at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-
fraud/webform/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Complaints filed will be reviewed at the NCDF and
referred to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for
investigation.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of
federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
MDFL COVID Fraud Criminal Cases
Charged Cases
Intended
Charge(s)
Type of Loss
Defendant(s) (Age)
Fraud*
Max. Imprisonment
Amount
Tampa Division
Wire fraud
Joseph Abdo (39) Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
PPP $500k
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Bank fraud
Alexander Leszczynski (22) PPP $200k
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Bank fraud
Charles Cunningham (72) PPP $800k
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Wire fraud
Ellyn Pinkney (60) EIDL $14M
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Kieanna Garrett EIDL $40k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Nicole Bramble-King PPP $40k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo,
Candace Rich, and Jennifer Peresie
Orlando Division
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Bank fraud
Evan Edwards (64) Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
PPP $8M
Joshua Edwards (30) Visa fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 years
False statements
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Wire fraud
Emmet Bowens (53) Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
PPP $740k
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years
Wire fraud
Keith Ingersoll EIDL $66k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Jaheim Davis UI $219k
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Kara Wick, Chauncy
Bratt, Shannon Laurie, and Amanda Daniels
Jacksonville Division
Wire fraud
Jacob Byrd PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Desmond Williams PPP $40k
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA Kevin Frein
Fort Myers Division
Mail fraud
Venera Price (45) ERAP $82k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
This COVID Fraud case from the Fort Myers Division is being handled by AUSA Yolande Viacava
Ocala Division
Wire Fraud
Lavelle Harris (36) PPP $1.2M
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire Fraud
Henry Wade EIDL $500k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk
Adjudicated Cases
Tampa Division
Wire fraud
Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria
EIDL $150k
(33)
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Racketeering conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Keaujay Hornsby (26) UI $3M
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Racketeering conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Kareem Spann (27) UI $3M
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Richard Simpkins (47) Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
PPP $1.9M
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Steve Moodie (33) Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
UI $1.5M
Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Marqus Willard Johnson PPP $500k
Money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Omar Esquivel Bello EIDL $242k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Diego
Novaes, Tiffany Fields, Jennifer Peresie, and Greg Pizzo, and DOJ Trial Attorney John Scanlon
Orlando Division
Possession of device-making
equipment
Maximum Prison Term: 15 Years
Brian Blake (30) Access device fraud
PPP/UI $832k
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Daniel Johnson (34) Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years UI $2.3M
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Unlawful transfer of firearm
Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and
$730k
other offenses
Teresa McIntyre (55) EIDL
Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years
This COVID Fraud case from the Orlando Division is being handled by AUSAs Chauncey Bratt, Amanda
Daniels, Jennifer Harrington, and Dana Hill, and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg
Fort Myers Division
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 Years
Money laundering
Daniel Joseph Tisone (34)
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years PPP/EIDL/MSLP $2.6M
Aggravated Identity Theft
Maximum Prison Term: 2 Years
Consecutive
Possession of Ammunition by a
Prohibited Person
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Liliana Gonzalez (31) Wire fraud
PPP $169k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Trent Reichling and
Jesus M. Casas
Sentenced Cases
Tampa Division
Wire Fraud
Louis Thornton, III (63)
EIDL/PPP $815k
Sentence Imposed: 42 months in
federal prison
Conspiracy to commit access device
fraud and aggravated identity theft
Kary Stevenson (48)
Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10
Corey Quinn (35) UI $1M
months in federal prison (Stevenson)
Sentence Imposed:7 years in federal
prison (Quinn)
Bank fraud
Bridgitte Keim (52)
PPP $588k
Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Wayne Ganaway (47)
EIDL $300k
Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal
prison
Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated
identity theft, access device fraud
Eriaius Bentley (29) UI $3M
Sentence Imposed: One year in
federal prison
Access device fraud, Aggravated
identity theft $135k
Rolanda Wingfield (39) UI
Sentenced Imposed: 3 years in
federal prison
Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated
Tywon Spann (25) UI $3M
identity theft, access device fraud
Sentence Imposed: 6 years and 9
months in federal prison
Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft
Randy Jones (34)
EIDL/UI $250k
Sentence Imposed: 5 years and 1
month in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit money
Julio Lugo (45) laundering
EIDL/PPP $4.4M
Sentence Imposed: 7 years and 6
months in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit money
Keith Nicoletta (49) laundering
PPP $1.9M
Sentence Imposed: 24 months in
federal prison
Conspiracy to commit money
Rosenide Venant (37) laundering $413k
EIDL/PPP
Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Melinda Hernandez (33) Wire fraud and aggravated identity
theft UI $1.5M
Sentence imposed: Three years and
six months in federal prison
Wire fraud and theft of government
funds
Briantina Mills
Sentence imposed: 15 months in
federal prison
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo,
Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, and SAUSA Chris Poor
Orlando Division
Possession of short-barreled rifle;
felon in possession of firearm; and
Jacquavius Smith (21) $10k
aggravated identity theft
PPP
Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 1 month
in federal prison
Wire fraud
Johnson Eustache (40)
EIDL/PPP $2.2M
Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Joseph Harrison (43)
UI $2.1M
Sentence Imposed: 12 months in
federal prison
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud;
Tomas Ziupsnys (39) bank fraud; aggravated identity theft
PPP $2M
Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
Holly Urban (36)
PPP $1.5M
Sentence Imposed: 30 months in
federal prison
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and
other offenses while on pretrial
release
Joel Greenberg (37) EIDL $430k
Sentence Imposed: 11 years in
federal prison
Wire fraud, illegal monetary
transactions, and aggravated identity
Don Cisternino (46) $7.2M
theft
PPP
Sentence Imposed: 8 and one half
years in federal prison
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs John Gardella, Amanda
Daniels, Chauncey Bratt, Emily Chang, and Jennifer Harrington, and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg
Fort Myers Division
Bank fraud, false statement to a
financial institution, illegal monetary
Casey Crowther (36)
transaction
PPP $2.7M
Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month
in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, wire fraud, Conspiracy to
commit money laundering, Illegal
monetary transactions
Anthony Bruey (36)
Sentence Imposed:
Amber Bruey (35) PPP/EIDL $881k
Anthony Bruey: 4 years, 3 months in
federal prison
Amber Bruey: 4 years in federal
prison
False statement to a lending
Edrica Leann Watson (30) institution
PPP $392k
Sentence Imposed: 15 months in
federal prison
These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSA Trent Reichling and AUSA
Jesus M. Casas
Types of Fraud*
Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Main Street Lending Program (MSLP)
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
Topic(s):
Coronavirus
Disaster Fraud
Financial Fraud
Component(s):
USAO - Florida, Middle
Updated January 17, 2023
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