United States v. Benjamin Rafael — Plea Agreement, Southern District of Florida (Document 18)
Summary
The plea agreement between the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida and Benjamin Rafael in Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS, entered on the docket 04/27/2021 as Document 18. Rafael agrees to waive indictment and plead guilty to an Information charging false statements to a financial institution under 18 U.S.C. § 1014, and the parties jointly recommend a base offense level of 7 and a loss greater than $95,000 and less than $150,000. He agrees to mandatory restitution and a forfeiture money judgment of $29,000. The factual basis says that in 2020 he applied for PPP and EIDL loans for businesses he owned while falsely stating that he had never pleaded guilty to or been convicted of a felony, including a $12,500 PPP loan on behalf of Benjamin Rafael P.A.
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“United States v. Benjamin Rafael — Plea Agreement, Southern District of Florida (Document 18).”
Original at archive.org. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/plea-agreement-no-1-21-cr-20161-dkt-18-s-d-fla-30dc5536b4/
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I Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 1 of 10
U NITED STAT ES D ISTR ICT CO U R T
SO UTH ERN D ISTR ICT O F FL O R ID A
CA SE N O . 21-20161 SIN G H AL
UN ITED STATES O F A M ER ICA ,
BENJA M IN R AFAEL ,
D efendant.
/
PLEA A G REE M ENT
TheUnitedStatesAttorney'sOfticefortheSouthernDistrictofFlorida(GcthisOffice''land
Benjamin Rafael(hereinaûertheS'Defendant'')enterintothefollowingagreement: '
1. The Defendant agrees to plead guilty to the lnformation, which chqrges the
D efendantw ith False Statem ents to a FinancialInstitutionjin violation ofTitle 18,United States
Code, Section 1014.The Defendant acknowledjes that he has read the charge against him
contained in the lnformation and thatthose charges have been fully explained to him by his
attolmey.
2. TheDefendantunderstandsthathehasthe rightto have theevidence and charges
againsthim presentedtoafederalgrandjuryfordeterminationofwhetherornotthereisprobable
causetobelievehecom mittedtheoffensesforwhich heischarged.Understanding thatright,and
. '
l
.
afterfulland completeconsultationwith hiscounsel,theDefendantagreesto waive.
1n open court
his rightto prosecution by lndictp entand agrees thatthis Office m ay proceed by way of an ,
Inform ation filed pursuantto Rule 7 ofthe FederalRules of Crim inalProcedure. '
3. The D efendant is aware that the sentence will be im posed by the Court after
considering the advisory Federaljentencing Guidelinesand Policy Statements(hereinafterthe
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 2 of 10
(tsentencing Guidelines''). The Defendant acknowledges and understands thatthe Courtwill
computean advisory sentence undertheSentencing Guidelinesand thatthe applicableguidelines
willbedeterminedby the Courtrelying in parton theresultsofapre-sentenceinvestigation bythe
United Statesprobation office,which investigation willcom mence aflertheguilty pleahasbeen
entered.TheDefendantisalsoawarethat,undercertain circum stances,theCourtm ay departfrom
theadvisorysentencingguidelinerangethatithascom puted,andm ay raise orlow erthatadvisory
sentence underthe Sentencing Guidelines. The Defendantisfurtheraware and undersiandsthat
the Courtis required to considerthe advisory guideline range determ ined underthe Sentencing
Guidelines,butisnotboundtoim poseasentencewithin thatadvisory range'
,theCourtisperm itted
totailortheultimatesentencein lightofotherstatutory concerns,and such sentencemay be either
moresevere orlessseverethan theSentencing Guidelines'advisory range.Knowingthesefacts,
the Defendant understands and acknowledges thatthe Courthas the authority to impose any
sentence within and up to the statutory maximum authorized by law forthe offense identified in
paragraph oneandthattheDefendantm ay notwithdraw thepleasolely asaresultofthesentence
im posed.
4. The Defendantalso understands and acknowledgesthatasto the allegations set
forth in thelnformation,theCourtm ay imposea statutory maximum term ofim prisonmentofup
tothirty(30)years.InadditiontoanyperiodofimprisonmenttheCourtmayalsoimposeaperiod
ofsupervised release ofup to five (5)years to commence atthe conclusion ofthe period of
im prisonm ent. In addition to a term of im prisonm ent and supervised release,the Court m ay
imposeafineofuptothegreaterof$1,000,000,pursuantto 18U.S.C.jj1014 and3571(b)(1),or
twicethepecuniarygainorloss,pursuantto 18U.S.C.j3571(d).
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 3 of 10
5, The D efendant fullher understands and acknow ledges that, in addition to any
sentence imposed underparagraph fourofthisagreem ent,a specialassessm entin the am ountof
$100 willbe im posed on the Defendant. The Defendant agrees that any specialassessm ent
imppsed shallbepaid atthe tim eofsentencing. Ifthe Defendantissnancially unableto pay the
specialassessm ent,the Defendantagreesto presentevidenceto thisOffce and the Courtatthe
tim e of sentencing asto the reasonsforthe D efendant's failure to pay.
6. This O ffce reserves the rightto inform the Courtand the probation ofsce of all
factspertinenttothesentencingprocess,includingal1relevantinformation concerning theoffenses
committed,whether charged or not,as wellas concerning the Defendant and the Defendant's
background. Subjectonlytotheexpresstermsofany agreed-uponsentencingrecommendations
contained in thisagreem ent,thisOfticefurtherreservestherighttom akeany recom mendation as
to the quality and quantity ofpunishm ent.
Provided thatthe Defendantcom mitsno new criminaloffenses and provided that
he continues to dem onstrate an aftirm ative recognition and afsrmative acceptance of personal
responsibility for his criminal conduct,the United States agrees that it will recomm end at
sentencing thatthe Courtreduce by two levels the sentencing guideline levelapplicable to the
defendant'soffense,pursuantto Section 3E1.1(a)oftheSentencingGuidelines.Ifatthetimeof
sentencing the Defendant'soffense levelisdeterm ined to be 16 orgreater,thisOffice willfile a
motionrequestinganadditionaloneleveldecreasepursuanttoSection3E1.1(b)oftheSentencing
Guidelines,stating thatthe Defendanthasassisted authoritiesin the investigation orprosecution
oftheDefendant'sown m isconductby timely notifying authoritiesoftheDefendant'sintentionto
enterapleaofguilty,thereby perm ittingthegovernm entto avoidpreparing fortrialand permitting
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 4 of 10
the govennm entand the Courtto allocatetheirresources efficiently. ThisOffice,however,will
notberequiredtomakethismotion iftheDefendant:(1)failsorrefusestomakeafull,accurate
and complete disclosure to the probation office of the circum stances surrounding the relevant
offenseconduct;(2)isfoundtohavemisrepresentedfactstothegovernmentpriortoenteringinto
this plea agreement'
,or (3) commits any misconductafter entering into this plea agreement,
includingbutnotlim itedto comm itling astateorfederaloffense,violating any term ofrelease,or
m aking false statem entsorm isrepresentationsto any governm entalentity orofficial.
8. ThisOffice and Defendantagreethat,although notbinding on theprobation office
ortheCourt,they willjointly recommendthattheCourtmakethefollowing indingsasto the
sentencetobeimposed:
a. Baseoffenselevel:Thatthebaseoffenselevel,pursuanttoSection2B1.1(aj(1)
ofthe Sentencing Guidelines,is 7,
'
Loss:ForpurposesofSection 281.1(b)(1),thelossamountattributabletothis
Defendant is greater than $95,000 and less than $150,000,resulting in an
increase of8 levels.
9. TheDefendantisawarethatthesentencehasnotyetbeen determ ined by theCoul'
t.
The Defendantalso isawarethatany estimate oftheprobablesentencing range orsentencethat
the Defendant may receive,whether that estimate com es from the Defendant's attorney,this
Office,ortheprobation office,isaprediction,nota prom ise,and isnotbinding on this Office,the
probation office orthe Court. TheDefendantunderstandsfurtherthatany recomm endation that
thisOfficem akesto the Courtasto sentencing,whetherpursuanttothisagreem entorotherwise,
isnotbinding on the Courtand the Courtm ay disregard the recomm endation in itsentirety. The
4
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 5 of 10
Defendantunderstandsand acknowledges,aspreviously acknowledged in paragraph threeabove,
thatthe Defendantm ay notwithdraw hisplea based upon the Court's decision notto accept a
sentencing recomm endation m ade by the Defendant,this Office,or a recom mendation made
jointlybytheDefendantandthisOffice.
10. TheDefendantis awm'ethatTitle28,United States Code,Section 1291 and Title
18,UnitedStatesCode,Section 3742 affordtheDefendanttherightto appealthesentenceim posed ,
in thiscase. Acknowledging this,in exchangefortheundertaldngsm ade by theUnited Statesin
thisplea agreem ent,theDefendanthereby waivesa1lrightsconferred by Sections 1291and 3742*
to appealany sentenceim posed,including any restitution order,orto appealthe manrzrin which
thesentencewasimposed,unlessthesentenceexceedsthemaximum perm ittedby statuteoristhe
resultofan upward departure and/oran upward variance from the advisory guidelinerange that
the Coul'testablishes at sentencing. The Defendantfurther understands thatnothing in this
agreem entshallaffectthegovernm ent'srightand/orduty to appealassetforth in Title 18,United
'
,
StatesCode,Section 3742*)and Title 28,United StatesCode,Section 1291. However,ifthe . '
j
United States appealsthe Defendant's sentence pursuantto Sections 3742(b) and 1291,the
Defendantshallbereleased from theabovewaiverofhisrightto appealhissentence.
11. By signing this agreem ent,the Defendantacknow ledges thatthe Defendanthas
discussed the appealwaiver set forth in this agreem entwith the Defendant's attorney. The
D efendantfurtheragrees,togetherw ith thisOffice,to requestthatthe Courtenteraspecitic finding
thatthe Defendant'swaiverofhisrightto appealthe sentenceim posed in this case and hisright
to appealhis conviction in the m arm erdescribed above w as knowing and voluntary.
5
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 6 of 10
12. The D efendantacknow ledges thatbecause the offense ofconviction occurred after
A pril24,1996,restitution is m andatory w ithoutregard to the D efendant's ability to pay and that
the Courtmustorder the Defendantto pay l'estitution for the fullloss caused by his crim inal
conductpursuantto Title 18,U nited States Code,Section 3663A .
13. The Defendant agrees,in an individualand any other capacity,to forfeitto the
United States,voluntarily and im mediately,pursuantto Title 18,United States Code,Section
982(a)(2),a11property,realorpersonal,involvedintheoffensetowhich sheispleadingguilty,or
any property traceable to suçh property. ln addition, the D efendant agrees to forfeiture of
substitutepropertypursuantto21U.S.C.j853(p).Thepropertysubjecttoforfeitureincludes,but
isnotlimitedto,aforfeituremoneyjudgmentinthesum of$29,000inU.S.currency,whichsum
representsthevalueoftheproperty subjecttoforfeiture.
14. TheDefendantfurtheragreesthatforfeitureisindependentofany assessm ent,fne,
cost,restitution,or penalty thatm ay be imposed by the Court.The Defendantknowingly and
voluntarily agrees to w aive a11 constitutional, legal,and equitable defenses to the forfeiture,
including excessive fines under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution.ln
addition,theDefendantagreesto waive:any applicabletimelimitsforadministrativeorjudicial
forfeitureproceedings,therequirementsofFed.R.Crim.P.32.2and43(a),andanyappealofthe
forfeiture.
TheDefendantalso agreesto fully and truthfully disclosethe existence,natureand
location ofa11assets in which Defendanthasor had any directorindirectfinancialinterestor
control,and any assetsinvolved in the offenseofconviction. The Defendaktalso agreesto take
a11steps requested by the U nited States forthe recovery and forfeiture of a11assets identified by
6
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 7 of 10
theUnited Statesassubjecttoforfeiture.Thisincludes,butisnotlimitedto,thetimely delivery
upon requestofa11necessary and appropriatedocum entationto delivergood and m arketabletitle,
consentingto a11ordersofforfeiture,andnotcontestingorimpeding in anyw ay with any criminal,
civiloradm inistrativeforfeitureproceeding concerning theforfeiture.
16. In furtherance ofthe satisfaction ofa forfeituremoney judgmententered by the
Courtin this case,the D efendantagreesto the follow ing:
a. subm ita financialstatem entto this Officeupon request,within 14
calendardaysfrom the request;
b. maintain any assetvalued in excess of$10,000,and notsell,hide,
waste,encum ber,destroy,orotherwise devalue such assetwithout
priorapprovaloftheUnited States;
'
c. provideinform ation aboutany transferofan assetvalued in excess
of$10,000 sincethe comm encem entofthe offense conductin this
. caseto date;
d. cooperatefully in the investigation and the identification ofassets,
includinj liquidating assets,meeting with representatives ofthe
United States,and providing any docum entation requested;and
e. notify, within 30 days,the Clerk of the Courtfor the Southern
District of Florida and this Office of:(i) any change ofname,
residence, or mailing address, and (ii) any material change in
econom ic circum stances.
7
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 8 of 10
The D efendant further understands thatproviding false or incom plete inform ation about assets,
concealing assets,making materially false statem entsorrepresentations,ormaking orusing false
writingsordocum entspertaining to assets,taking any action thatwould im pede the forfeiture of
assets,orfailing to cooperatefully in theinvestigation and identification ofassetsm ay be used as
abasisfor:(i)separateprosecution,including,under18U.S.C.j1001.
,or(ii)recommendationof
a denialof a reduction foracceptance of responsibility pursuantto the United States Sentencing
Guidelinesj3E1.1.
The D efendantagrees thatifhe fails to com ply w ith any ofthe provisions ofthis
Agreement,includingthefailureto tendersuch agreem enttotheCourt,m akesfalseormisleading
statementsbeforethe Coul'torto any agentsoftheUnited States,com mitsany furthercrim es,or
attemptstowithdraw theplea(priortoorafterpleadingguiltytotheoffenseidentifiedinparagraph
one(1)above),theUnited Stateswillhavetherighttochayacterizesuch conductasabreach of
thisagreem ent. In the eventofsuch a breach the Defendantwaivesany protectionsafforded by
SectionIB1.8(a)oftheSentencingGuidelines,Rule11oftheFederalRulesofCriminalProcedure
and Rule410 ofthe FederalRulesofEvidence,and the United Stateswillbefreeto use against
the Defendant,directly and indirectly,in any crim inalorcivilproceeding any ofthe inform ation,
statements,and materials provided by him pursuantto this agreem ent,including offering into
evidence orotherwise using the incorporated FactualBasisforGuilty Plea (seeparagraph 18,
infra).
18. FactualBasisforGz/#@ Plea.ThisOfticeandtheDefendantstipulatetoandagree
notto contestthefollowing facts,and stipulatethatsuch facts,in accordancewithRule 11(b)(3)
8
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 9 of 10
oftheFederalRulesofCriminalProcedure,provideasufûcientfactualbasisfortheplea ofguilty
inthiscase:
Ifthiscasehad gonetotrialthegovernm entwould haveproved beyondareasonabledoubt
thatthe defendantknowingly m ade a false statementforthe purpose ofinfluencing the
actionsofafinancialinstitution,theaccountsofwhichwereinstfredby theFederalDeposit
lnsurance Corporation,in v
'iolation of18 United StatesCode,Section 1014.
Invçstigationby theOfticeofInspectorGeneralrevealedthatbetweenApril2020andM ay
2020,Rafael applied for several loans through the Sm all Business Adm inistration's
Paycheck Protection Program (t$PPP'')and Economic lnjury Disaster Loan ($çE1DL'')
prpgram on behalfofvayiousbusinessofwhich istheregi'
. stered agentand owner. ln the
loan applications,Rafaèlincorrectly stated thathe had neverpleaded guilty to,orbeen
convicted of,afelôny when in facthehad previously pleaded guilty to,and wasconvicted
of,conspiracy to com mitwire fraud on October30,2019,in Southern DistrictofFlorida
casenumber19-20447-0R (thet'FalseStatements''). RafaelntadetheFalseStatements
kziowinglyandwiththeintenttoinfluencetheactionsofthefinancialinstitutiontowhich
he subm itted the loan applications. R afaelm ade the False Statem entsw hen he applied for
thefollowing loans: '
a. $12,500 PPP loan on behalf of Benjamin Rafael P.A. (loan number
2341647300).RafaelreceivedtheloanproceedsforthisloanintohisTD Barlk
accountending in 2616 on M ay 7,2020.
$8,000 EIDL loan on behalfofCapitalB LLC (loan number7201527910).
Rafael received the loan proceeds for this loan into his Bank of Am erica
accountending in 6161on June 18,2020.
$8,500 PPP loan on behalfof CapitalB LLC (10% number 5242897401).
Rafael received the loan proceeds for this loan into his Bank of Am erica
accountending in 6161on M ay 12,2020.
d. $44,000 EIDL loan on behalf of SARRE lnvestments (loan number
7201907906;applicationnumber3000179378).Rafaelappliedforthisloanon
M ay 15,2020,and was prelim inarily approved for a loan in the amountof
$44,000.
$36,000 EIDL loan on behalfofBenjamin RafaelP.A.(application number
3000179336). Rafaelapplied for this loan on May 15,2020, and was
prelim inarily approved foraloan in theam ountof$36,000.
$12,500 EIDL loan on behalfofBenjamin RafaelP.A.(application number
3301033361). Rafael applied for this loan on April 1, 2020, and was
prelim inarily approved foraloan in theam ountof$12,500.
ln addition to the aforem entioned loans,R afaelalso applied foran EID L loan on behalfof
Benjamin RafaelP.A.(application number3302838434)onApril7,2020.Forthisloan
application,R afaelw asnotprelim inarily approved forany loan am ount.
9
Case 1:21-cr-20161-AHS Document 18 Entered on FLSD Docket 04/27/2021 Page 10 of 10
The Gnallcialinstitutionsto whicl: Rafaelmadc the Falsc Statem ents had dçposits that
were instlred by tlle FederalDepositlnsurance Corporation. Additionally,Rafaelmade
theFalseStatemcntsto theSmallBusinessAdm inislration.Finally,Rafacl'soffdnsestook
placewithin the Southern DistrictofFlorida.
19. This is the entire agreementand undcrstanding betwecn thc United Statesand the
Dcfcndant.Thereareno otlleragretmcnts,promises,rcpresentationsorunderstandings.
JUAN ANTONIO GONZALEZ
ACTING UNITZD STATESAU ORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
r, f
Date:4/26/2021 By;
ACEE ELIZA ETH M ONK
ASSISTANT UNITED STATES AU ORNEY
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Date:t
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' ,l By;'TII-XJAM IAAF
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DEFENDAXT
1)ate: 23 $
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By: -
TO ODER
OIJNSEL FOR DEFENDANT
10
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