U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud (USAO MD-FL 01/17/2024) (2024-01-18)
Summary
A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, dated January 17, 2024, in which United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces results of the Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force, formed in March 2020. The release states that the Task Force has prosecuted 77 defendants who collectively sought to defraud the United States of over $85 million; fifty-six have been found guilty and prosecution remains pending against 21. In fiscal year 2023 it indicted 26 cases seeking more than $15 million. Examples include Denis Casseus, sentenced to two years with forfeiture of $298,875, and Vitalii Chychasov, sentenced to eight years. Forfeiture of more than $20 million is complete and more than $18 million more has been seized, and a chart lists charged, adjudicated and sentenced cases by division.
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“U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud (USAO MD-FL 01/17/2024) (2024-01-18).”
Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/u-s-department-of-labor-oig-middle-district-of-florida-task-force-cont-1271707830/
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PRESS RELEASE
Middle District Of Florida Task
Force Continues To Combat
COVID-19 Fraud
Wednesday, January 17, 2024
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida
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 United States Attorney’s Office’s
(USAO-MDFL) Criminal, Asset Recovery, Appellate, and Civil Divisions, along with federal,
state, and local law enforcement agencies.
“The Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office continues to pursue,
investigate, prosecute, and recover money from those who were engaged in major or
sophisticated fraud schemes designed to steal benefits intended for Americans coping
with the myriad impacts of the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg.
On the criminal enforcement front, the USAO-MDFL and federal, state, and local law
enforcement agencies combined resources 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
77 defendants for fraud schemes designed to exploit federal programs including the
Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”),
Unemployment Insurance (“UI”), the Main Street Lending Program (“MSLP”), the
Emergency Rental Assistance Program (“ERAP”), as well as government Healthcare
programs such as Medicare (“HCF”). Collectively, these defendants sought to defraud
the United States of over $85 million. Fifty-six of those defendants have already been
found guilty, while prosecution remains pending against 21 defendants. (See chart for
criminal case details.) In fiscal year 2023, the Task Force indicted 26 COVID-19 fraud
related cases in which defendants sought to obtain more than $15 million from the
various federal programs.
For example, in October 2023, U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber sentenced Denis
Casseus to two years in federal prison for bank fraud and an illegal monetary
transaction. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the
amount of $298,875, the proceeds of the bank fraud. According to court documents,
Casseus submitted two fraudulent PPP applications, in which he falsely represented that
the PPP funds would be used only for business-related purposes, as specified in the loan
applications. Instead, Casseus used a portion of the fraudulent-obtained money for the
purchase a residence in Cape Coral.
In a separate matter, United States District Judge Kathryn Mizelle sentenced Vitalii
Chychasov to eight years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit access device fraud
and trafficking in unauthorized access devices. Chychasov was an administrator of a
series of websites that sold Social Security numbers. During the early stages of the
COVID-19 pandemic, traffic to and purchases on the website increased dramatically due
to individuals purchasing Social Security numbers and other personal information in
order to commit COVID-19 fraud, primarily unemployment insurance fraud.
Further, the USAO-MDFL’s Asset Recovery Division and federal seizing agencies have
completed the forfeiture of more than $20 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 $18 million in additional pandemic fraud
proceeds have been seized and are pending civil or criminal forfeiture.
The U.S. 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,
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 Small Business Administration—Office of Inspector
General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation—Office of Inspector General,
Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery, Federal Reserve
Board—Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services—Office
of Inspector General, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police
Department, the Orlando Police Department, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, 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.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida
COVID Fraud Criminal Cases
Charged Cases
Intended
Charge(s)
Type of Loss
Defendant(s) (Age)
Fraud*
Max. Imprisonment
Amount
Tampa Division
Wire fraud conspiracy
Alexander Alli EIDL $80k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Ellyn Pinkney EIDL $40k
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
Conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 5 years
<mehdi< a="" Wire fraud
style="box-sizing:
UI $1.5M
inherit;">Mehdi Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Tazi</mehdi<>
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Wire fraud
Modupe Ogundele PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Devontaie Deravil UI $480k
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Jordan Ross EIDL/PPP $1.3M
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Wire fraud
Demarius Wilson PPP $18k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Tommy Louisville PPP $33k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Theft of government funds
Maximum Prison Term: 10 years
False statement to obtain federal
employees’ compensation
Dawn Ogundele PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 5 years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones,
Tiffany Fields, Greg Pizzo, Candace Rich, Jennifer Peresie, and Michael Kenneth
Orlando Division
Evan Edwards
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud
PPP $8M
Joshua Edwards
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Visa fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 years
False statements
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Emmet Bowens PPP $740k
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
False statements
Latresia Wilson HCF $2.6M
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by AUSAs Kara Wick,
Amanda Daniels, and DOJ Trial Attorney Keith Clouser
Jacksonville Division
Wire Fraud
James Wigg PPP $476k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 years
This COVID Fraud case from the Jacksonville Division is being handled by AUSA Tysen Duva
Fort Myers Division
Mail fraud
Venera Price ERAP $82k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Money laundering
Timothy Jolloff PPP/EIDL
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
$2.1M
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Lisa Jolloff PPP/EIDL
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Wire fraud
Diop McKenzie EIDL/PPP $237k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years
Consecutive
These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSAs Yolande
Viacava and Trent Reichling
Ocala Division
Wire fraud
Henry Wade EIDL $500k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division is being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk
Adjudicated Cases
Tampa Division
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison
Term: 20 Years
Joseph Abdo PPP $500k
Illegal monetary
transactions
Maximum Prison
Term: 10 Years
Racketeering
conspiracy
Maximum Prison
Keaujay Hornsby Term: 20 Years UI $3M
Aggravated identity
theft
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 UI $3M
Maximum Prison
Term: Two Years
Consecutive
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison
Term: 10 Years
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison
Term: 30 Years
Marqus Willard
PPP $500k
Johnson
Money laundering
Maximum Prison
Term: 20 Years
Bank fraud
Charles
PPP $800k
Cunningham Maximum Prison
Term: 30 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
Bank fraud
Joseph Faubert PPP $778k
Maximum Prison
Term: 30 years
This COVID Fraud case from the Orlando Division is being handled by AUSAs Chauncey Bratt
Jacksonville Division
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison
Term: 20 Years
Theft of government
Christopher funds
PPP $150k
Daragjati
Maximum Prison
Term: 10 Years
Aggravated identity
theft
Maximum: Prison
Term: Two Years
Consecutive
This COVID Fraud case from the Jacksonville Division is being handled by AUSAs Kevin Frein
and Michael Coolican
Ocala Division
Wire fraud
Passion Jackson PPP $20K
Maximum Prison
Term: 20 Years
This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division is being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk
Fort Myers Division
Wire fraud
Evan Graves EIDL $1.3M
Maximum Prison
Term: 20 Years
This COVID Fraud case from the Fort Myers Division is being handled by AUSAs Yolande
Viacava and Simon Eth
Sentenced Cases
Tampa Division
Wire fraud, bank
fraud, illegal monetary
transactions
Alexander
PPP $1.1M
Leszczynski
Sentence Imposed: 17
and ½ years in federal
prison
Wire fraud
Louis Thornton, III Sentence Imposed: 42 EIDL/PPP $815k
months in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit
access device fraud
and aggravated
identity theft
Kary Stevenson Sentence Imposed: 5
years, 10 months in UI $1M
Corey Quinn federal prison
(Stevenson)
Sentence Imposed:7
years in federal prison
(Quinn)
Bank fraud
Bridgitte Keim PPP $588k
Sentence Imposed: 2
years in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
Wayne Ganaway wire fraud EIDL $300k
Sentence Imposed: 4
years in federal prison
Racketeering
conspiracy,
aggravated identity
theft, access device
Eriaius Bentley UI $3M
fraud
Sentence Imposed: One
year in federal prison
Access device fraud,
aggravated identity
theft
Rolanda Wingfield UI $135k
Sentenced Imposed: 3
years in federal prison
Racketeering
conspiracy,
aggravated identity
theft, access device
Tywon Spann fraud UI $3M
Sentence Imposed: 6
years and 9 months in
federal prison
Wire fraud,
aggravated identity
theft
Randy Jones EIDL/UI $250k
Sentence Imposed: 5
years and 1 month in
federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
money laundering
Julio Lugo EIDL/PPP $4.4M
Sentence Imposed: 7
years and 6 months in
federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
money laundering
Keith Nicoletta PPP $1.9M
Sentence Imposed: 24
months in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit
money laundering
Rosenide Venant EIDL/PPP $413k
Sentence Imposed: 5
years in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud,
wire fraud and
aggravated identity
Melinda Hernandez theft UI $1.5M
Sentence imposed:
Three years and six
months in federal
prison
Wire fraud and theft
Bri’antina Mills of government funds EIDL $10K
Sentence imposed: 15
months in federal
prison
Wire fraud
Jorge Gutierrez Sentence imposed:
EIDL $150k
Echeverria Two years and six
months in federal
prison
Wire fraud
Omar Esquivel Bello Sentence imposed: 15 EIDL $242k
months in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud, wire fraud,
aggravated identity
theft
Steve Moodie UI $1.5M
Sentence imposed: 5
years and 10 months
in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
money laundering
Richard Simpkins PPP $1.9M
Sentence imposed: 5
years and 10 months
in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud, access
device fraud
Devaris McClain UI $85K
Sentence imposed: 5
years and 1 month in
federal prison
Wire fraud
Sentence imposed: 3
Jalissa McDuffy PPP $41k
years supervised
release with 6 months
home detention
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones,
Greg Pizzo, Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, Jennifer Peresie, and SAUSA Chris Poor
Orlando Division
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud, aggravated
identity theft,
unlawful transfer of
Daniel Johnson firearm UI $2.3M
Sentence Imposed: 7
years, 6 months in
federal prison
Possession of short-
barreled rifle; felon in
possession of firearm;
Jacquavius Smith PPP $10k
and aggravated
identity theft
Sentence Imposed: 7
years, 1 month in
federal prison
Wire fraud
Johnson Eustache EIDL/PPP $2.2M
Sentence Imposed: 5
years in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud
Joseph Harrison UI $2.1M
Sentence Imposed: 12
months in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit
bank fraud; bank
fraud; aggravated
Tomas Ziupsnys identity theft PPP $2M
Sentence Imposed: 5
years in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
bank fraud
Holly Urban PPP $1.5M
Sentence Imposed: 30
months in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud and other
Joel Greenberg offenses while on EIDL $430k
pretrial release
Sentence Imposed: 11
years in federal prison
Wire fraud, illegal
monetary
transactions, and
Don Cisternino aggravated identity
theft PPP $7.2M
Sentence Imposed: 8
years and 6 months in
federal prison
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud, wire fraud,
aggravated identity
theft
Keith Ingersoll EIDL $66k
Sentence imposed: 9
years, 1 month in
federal prison.
Access device fraud
and aggravated
identity theft
Jaheim Davis UI $219k
Sentence imposed: 3
years, 6 months in
federal prison.
Conspiracy to commit
wire fraud and other
offenses
Teresa McIntyre EIDL $730k
Sentence Imposed: 5
years’ probation
Possession of device-
making equipment,
access device fraud,
aggravated identity
Brian Blake theft PPP/UI $832k
Sentence Imposed: 9
years and 8 months in
federal prison
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division were handled by AUSAs John Gardella,
Amanda Daniels, Chauncey Bratt, Emily Chang, Shannon Laurie, and Jennifer Harrington,
and U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg
Jacksonville Division
Wire fraud
Jacob Byrd PPP $10k
Sentence Imposed: 5
years’ probation
Wire fraud
Deconna Burke PPP $20k
Sentence Imposed: 5
years’ probation
Wire fraud conspiracy,
wire fraud
Desmond Williams PPP $40k
Sentenced Imposed: 5
years’ probation
Wire fraud and illegal
Kenneth Landers monetary transaction PPP $1.4M
Sentence Imposed: 1
year in federal prison
followed by 1 year of
supervised release
These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division were handled by AUSAs Kevin Frein
and Michael Coolican
Fort Myers Division
Bank fraud, false
statement to a
financial institution,
illegal monetary
Casey Crowther 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
Sentence Imposed: PPP/EIDL $881k
Amber Bruey
Anthony Bruey: 4
years, 3 months in
federal prison
Amber Bruey: 4 years
in federal prison
False statement to a
lending institution
Edrica Leann
PPP $392k
Watson Sentence Imposed: 15
months in federal
prison
Wire fraud, bank
fraud, money
laundering,
aggravated identity
Daniel Joseph theft, possession of
PPP/EIDL/MSLP $10.7M
Tisone ammunition by a
prohibited person
Sentence Imposed: 7
years in federal prison
Wire fraud
Sentence Imposed: 5
Liliana Gonzalez PPP $169k
years of probation
with 18 months of
home confinement
Bank fraud
Al Clint LaRoche Sentence Imposed: PPP $1M
Two years in federal
prison
Bank fraud and illegal
monetary transaction
Denis Casseus PPP $298k
Sentence Imposed: 2
years in federal prison
followed by 3 years
supervised release
Bank fraud
Sentence Imposed:
Ismaelle Manuel PPP $280k
Credit for time served
followed by 5 years
supervised release
These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division were handled by AUSAs Trent
Reichling, Michael Leeman, Jesus Casas, and Yolande Viacava
Ocala Division
Wire fraud
Sentence Imposed:
Lavelle Harris PPP $1.2M
Two years and three
months in federal
prison
This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division was handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk
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)
Health Care Fraud (HCF)
Updated January 17, 2024
Topics
CORONAVIRUS
DISASTER FRAUD
FINANCIAL FRAUD
Component
USAO - Florida, Middle
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