Tampa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More Than Half a Million Dollars in COVID Relief Funds — Middle District of Florida, January 15, 2026
Summary
Federal press release datelined Tampa, Florida announcing that Terrance Bradford, 47, of Tampa, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 months in federal prison for obtaining multiple fraudulent COVID relief loans, with a forfeiture order of $533,648.32. According to court records, between April 2020 and March 2021 Bradford submitted multiple false Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications to the Small Business Administration. The applications asked whether he was suspended from contracting with the federal government or in bankruptcy, and the release says he answered no although a Department of Labor investigation had excluded him.
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Cite this document
“Tampa Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More Than Half a Million Dollars in COVID Relief Funds — Middle District of Florida, January 15, 2026.”
Original at www.justice.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/doj-usao-mdfl-press-release-tampa-man-sentenced-federal-prison-stealin-9f26a84d49/
, SHA-256 0e1940ca4229e8ef633f312ffb265b26f49096e923d0a47a3ed009fc4db9ccae.Full text
Tampa, Florida – Terrance Bradford (47, Tampa) was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to 30 months in federal prison for obtaining multiple fraudulent COVID relief loans. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture of $533,648.32, which represents the proceeds he obtained through these offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court records, between April 2020 and March 2021, Bradford devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting multiple false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) and Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan applications. On these applications, Bradford was asked whether he was suspended from contracting with the federal government or whether he was presently in bankruptcy. In response to each question, Bradford answered “no.” Despite Bradford’s certifications, based on a prior investigation from the Department of Labor, Bradford was excluded from receiving any federal contracts or grants. Furthermore, Bradford’s business was in bankruptcy proceedings when he submitted his applications. By concealing this information on his loan applications, Bradford obtained $533,648.32 in COVID relief funds to which he was not entitled. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky is handling the forfeiture.
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