Postal Employee Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud
Summary
A release of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, dated Thursday, July 31, 2025, announcing that Marina Tusca Brooks Stewart, 62, of Groveland, pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to COVID relief and faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a forfeiture order of $10,000. According to court documents, between June 28 and 30, 2020 Stewart applied to the SBA for a Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advance with false representations and received $10,000. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General and is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
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Full text
Press Release Postal Employee Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud Thursday, July 31, 2025 For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Marina Tusca Brooks Stewart (62, Groveland) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to COVID relief. Stewart faces up to 20 years in federal prison. She is also facing a forfeiture order of $10,000, which represents the proceeds she obtained through this offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, during the COVID pandemic, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) offered Targeted Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Advances that did not need to be repaid. The advances were for small businesses that were in low-income communities and received a reduction in revenue of more than 30% during an eight-week period. Between June 28 and 30, 2020, Brooks devised a scheme to defraud the SBA by electronically applying for an EIDL advance and providing false representations in her application. Based on her false representations, Stewart fraudulently received a $10,000 EIDL advance. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Service - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by visiting the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice. gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. Updated August 1, 2025 Topics Coronavirus Disaster Fraud Component USAO - Florida, Middle Related Content Press Release Osceola Man Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud Scheme Relating To Federal Criminal Forfeiture Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Levelle Joseph Harris (38, Kissimmee) has pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud. Harris faces up to 20 years... August 1, 2025 Press Release Postal Employee Pleads Guilty To COVID Relief Fraud Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Kenneth Tyrone Jackson (59, Ocala) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud related to COVID relief. Jackson faces up to 20... July 31, 2025 Press Release Arizona Man Sentenced For Hand Sanitizer Scheme During The COVID Pandemic Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced Frank Richard Nickens (58, Arizona) to three years in federal prison for wire fraud. The court also ordered Nickens to forfeit $69,155 traceable to... July 25, 2025
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