U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Over 100 Defendants Federally Charged With Fraud Related To The COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO MD-FL 09/25/2024) (2024-09-30)
Summary
A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Florida, dated September 25, 2024, reporting that the office has federally charged 109 individuals with fraud schemes tied to COVID-19 programs since March 2020. It states that 74 of the 109 charged defendants have been found guilty, prosecution remains pending against 35, and the defendants collectively sought to defraud the United States of over $96 million. It describes the September 20, 2024 jury conviction of Angela Chew, an SBA loan specialist, on conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud counts tied to EIDL applications, and a July 2024 superseding indictment charging Jared Dean Eakes over approximately $4,752,270 in PPP loans. It also reports a $2,281,950 civil settlement with Miles Partnership, LLC and the forfeiture of more than $20 million in EIDL, UI and PPP funds.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Over 100 Defendants Federally Charged With Fraud Related To The COVID-19 Pandemic (USAO MD-FL 09/25/2024) (2024-09-30).”
Original at www.oig.dol.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/u-s-department-of-labor-oig-over-100-defendants-federally-charged-with-45ab9fa9a6/
, SHA-256 77ec8ef7d1a1a4374c83576ef26358680b7851e2492c06e16ea7089e05f2c31e.Full text
PRESS RELEASE
Over 100 Defendants Federally Charged
With Fraud Related To The COVID-19
Pandemic
Wednesday, September 25, 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 the COVID-19
pandemic. Since March 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO-MDFL) has
federally charged 109 individuals with fraud schemes designed to exploit state and
federal programs implemented to alleviate the economic hardships caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts include complementary actions by the USAO-MDFL’s
Criminal, Civil, Asset Recovery, Appellate Divisions, in cooperation with federal, state,
and local law enforcement agencies.
“The Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office, in
cooperation with our federal, state, and local law enforcement
partners, is committed to holding accountable those people who
schemed to steal or otherwise obtain through misconduct benefits
intended for Americans coping with the impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg.
With respect to criminal enforcement, 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 with the purpose of identifying, investigating, and
federally prosecuting fraud related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since its
inception, the Task Force has prosecuted 109 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. Collectively, these defendants
sought to defraud the United States of over $96 million. Of the 109 charged defendants,
74 have already been found guilty while prosecution remains pending against 35
defendants.
The Middle District of Florida COVID-19 Fraud Task Force continues to aggressively
investigate and prosecute individuals that took advantage of COVID-19 programs. On
September 20, 2024, for example, a federal grand jury convicted Angela Chew (60,
Leesburg) of conspiracy to bribe a public official and commit wire fraud, three counts of
bribery of a public official, and six counts of wire fraud. Chew faces up to 5 years in
federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 15 years in federal prison on each of the
bribery counts, and up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the wire fraud counts.
Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 18, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, Chew conspired with three others to submit
applications for COVID-19 EIDLs containing false and fraudulent information in
exchange for bribe payments. The evidence showed Chew used her position as a loan
specialist for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to internally access those loan
applications that she and a co-conspirator had submitted on behalf of others. Chew
then took actions on the applications within the SBA’s internal processing system that
moved the loans towards approval. For example, Chew submitted a loan on behalf of a
co-conspirator’s business that she knew was not active or operating at the time she
submitted the loan. The loan was flagged as a duplicate by the SBA’s internal system,
which stopped the application from progressing toward approval and funding. Chew
then entered the SBA’s loan processing system, accessed the loan application,
reactivated it, and manipulated the loan’s status multiple times to progress the
application toward approval and funding in the amount of $150,000. In exchange, Chew
received thousands of dollars in bribe payments from two of her co-conspirators. The
evidence showed that Chew caused the funding of at least six EIDL applications, for a
total loss of over $800,000.
In July 2024, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Jared
Dean Eakes (33, Jacksonville) with five counts of wire fraud and three counts of bank
fraud. According to the superseding indictment, Eakes participated in a scheme to
defraud investors and fraudulently secured approximately $4,752,270 in PPP loans.
Eakes caused the submission of four PPP loan applications—including applications for
two of the entities involved in the scheme to defraud investors—which contained false
and fraudulent supporting documentation and statements regarding the entities’
employees and payroll. Once Eakes obtained the PPP loans, he did not use the funds for
qualifying expenses as required by the program. Instead, he used the funds to engage in
options trading or withdrew the funds in cash.
In addition to criminal prosecutions, the MDFL-USAO continues to investigate and
pursue civil redress against individuals and entities who fraudulently obtained PPP
funds. For example, in September 2024, Miles Partnership, LLC (“Miles”), a travel and
tourism consulting company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, agreed to a civil
settlement of $2,281,950 to resolve allegations that Miles improperly obtained and
received forgiveness for a second draw PPP loan. According to the information
contained in the qui tam complaint, Miles was required to file a registration statement
under FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) due to its work with various foreign
tourism boards. The United States investigated these allegations with the cooperation of
Miles. The civil settlement will conclude the lawsuit.
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 Small Business Administration—Office of Inspector
General, the Small Business Administration, 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 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, Department of Veterans Affairs – Office of Inspector General, U.S.
Agency for International Development, 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, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office,
and the Pasco 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
Charge(s) Intended
Type of
Defendant(s) (Age) Loss
Fraud*
Max. Imprisonment Amount
Tampa Division
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two
Devontaie Deravil Years Consecutive 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
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud
Marquett James
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years EIDL/PPP $96k
Alyson Marquett
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Willie Murray Jr. HCF $5M
Aggravated identity theft
Maximum Prison Term: Two
Years Consecutive
Conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 5 years
Charles Driver Jr. UI $175k
Access device fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 10 years
Wire fraud
Eric Canonico PPP $2.3M
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Bank fraud
Alexander Leszczynski PPP $1.1M
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Wire fraud
Capree Holmes EIDL $159k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Javarus Polite PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Luis Morales PPP $40k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Rosson Hamilton PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
David Antonetti PPP $40k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Carlos Dones PPP $14k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Santos Cruz Rivera PPP $16k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Tevyan Hepburn PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Jeanty Cherilus EIDL/PPP $370k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Wire fraud
Gage Bowen PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division are being handled by AUSAs Tiffany Fields, Greg
Pizzo, Candace Rich, Jennifer Peresie, Michael Kenneth, Merrilyn Hoenemeyer, and Daniel Baeza
Orlando Division
Conspiracy to commit bank
fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Evan Edwards
PPP $8M
Bank fraud
Joshua Edwards
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
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 years
Shawn Simmerer
Wire fraud PPP $344k
Seth Downes
Maximum Prison Term: 20 years
False claim
Maximum Prison Term: 5 years
Conspiracy to commit wire
Daniel Bohorquez EIDL $546k
fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 years
Wire fraud
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
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 $2.1M
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Money laundering
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Lisa Jolloff PPP/EIDL $2.1M
Illegal monetary transactions
Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years
Diop McKenzie Bank fraud EIDL/PPP $237k
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Wire fraud
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 AUSA Yolande Viacava
and Trent Reichling
Jacksonville Division
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years
Jared Eakes PPP $4.7M
Bank fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 30 years
Conspiracy
Natasha Hemming
Access device fraud
Tiffany Gonsalves UI $5.6M
Aggravated identity theft
Joshua Seedhaire
Maximum: Prison Term: Two
Years Consecutive
These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs David Mesrobian
and John Cannizzaro
Ocala Division
Lisa Starkes Wire fraud
PPP $80k
Ivan Starkes 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
Demarius Wilson PPP $18k
Maximum Prison Term: 20
Years
This COVID Fraud case from the Tampa Division is being handled by AUSA Michael Kenneth
Orlando Division
Wire fraud
Robert Burns PPP $57k
Maximum Prison Term: 20
Years
Conspiracy to commit wire
William Barrientos fraud
EIDL $693k
Grisoris Barrientos Maximum Prison Term: 20
Years
Conspiracy
Maximum Prison Term: 5
Years
Bribery of a public official
Angela Chew EIDL $732k
Maximum Prison Term: 15
Years
Wire fraud
Maximum Prison Term: 20
Years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by Amanda Daniels, Diane Hu,
and Richard Varadan
Jacksonville Division
Wire Fraud
James Wigg PPP $476k
Maximum Prison Term: 20
years
Wire Fraud
Crystal Harvell PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20
years
These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA, Kevin
Frein
and Tysen Duva
Ocala Division
Wire fraud
Passion Jackson PPP $20k
Maximum Prison Term: 20
Years
Wire fraud
Nicole Harding PPP $20k
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
Sentenced Cases
Tampa Division
Wire fraud
Louis Thornton, III EIDL/PPP $815k
Sentence Imposed: 42 months
in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit access
device fraud and aggravated
identity theft
Kary Stevenson
UI $1M
Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10
Corey Quinn
months in 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 wire
fraud
Wayne Ganaway EIDL $300k
Sentence Imposed: 4 years 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,
Eriaius Bentley access device fraud UI $3M
Sentence Imposed: One year
in federal prison
Racketeering conspiracy,
aggravated identity theft,
access device fraud
Tywon Spann UI $3M
Sentence Imposed: 6 years
and 9 months in federal
prison
Racketeering conspiracy,
aggravated identity theft,
access device fraud
Keaujay Hornsby UI $3M
Sentence Imposed: 10 years
and 10 months in federal
prison
Racketeering conspiracy,
aggravated identity theft,
access device fraud
Kareem Spann UI $3M
Sentence Imposed: 10 years
and 10 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
Melinda Hernandez identity theft UI $1.5M
Sentence imposed: Three
years and six months in
federal prison
Wire fraud and theft of
government funds
Bri’antina Mills EIDL $10K
Sentence imposed: 15 months
in federal prison
Wire fraud
Jorge Gutierrez
Sentence imposed: Two years EIDL $150k
Echeverria
and six months in federal
prison
Wire fraud
Omar Esquivel Bello EIDL $242k
Sentence imposed: 15 months
in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, wire fraud, aggravated UI $1.5M
Steve Moodie
identity theft
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
Jalissa McDuffy Sentence imposed: 3 years PPP $41k
supervised release with 6
months home detention
Wire fraud
Kieanna Garrett EIDL $40k
Sentence imposed: 60 days’
imprisonment
Bank fraud
Money laundering
Marqus Willard Johnson PPP $500k
Sentence imposed: 18 months’
imprisonment followed by 60
moths supervised release
Conspiracy, Aggravated
identity theft
Mehdi Tazi UI $1.5M
Sentenced imposed: 5 years
imprisonment followed by4
years supervised release
Conspiracy, Aggravated
identity theft
Tyree Wingfield Sentenced imposed: 5 years UI $1.5M
and 10 months
imprisonment followed by4
years supervised release
Theft of government funds
Dawn Ogundele PPP $20k
Sentence imposed: 2 years’
probation
Wire fraud conspiracy
Alexander Alli EIDL $80k
Sentence imposed: 13 months’
imprisonment
Bank fraud
Charles Cunningham PPP $800k
Sentence imposed: 21 months’
imprisonment
Wire fraud
Jailyn Holmes PPP $20k
Sentence imposed: 5 years’
probation
Nicole Bramble-King Wire fraud PPP $40k
Sentence imposed: 5 years’
probation
Wire fraud
Tommy Louisville PPP $33k
Sentence imposed: 12 months’
imprisonment
Wire fraud
Joseph Abdo Illegal monetary transactions PPP $500k
Sentence imposed: 5 years’
probation
Wire fraud
Money laundering
Barrett Purvis EIDL $499k
Sentence imposed: 2 years
and 9 months in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud
Bergeline Lexis EIDL/PPP $68k
Sentence imposed: 10 months
in federal prison
These COVID Fraud cases from the Tampa Division were handled by AUSAs Rachel Jones, Greg Pizzo,
Tiffany Fields, Diego Novaes, Jennifer Peresie, Merrilyn Hoenemeyer, Jay Trezevant, SAUSA Chris Poor,
and DOJ Trial Attorney John Scanlon
Orlando Division
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, aggravated identity
theft, unlawful transfer of
Daniel Johnson UI $2.3M
firearm
Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 6
months in federal prison
Possession of short-barreled
rifle; felon in possession of
firearm; and aggravated
Jacquavius Smith PPP $10k
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
Holly Urban PPP $1.5M
fraud
Sentence Imposed: 30 months
in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud and other offenses
Joel Greenberg while on pretrial release EIDL $430k
Sentence Imposed: 11 years in
federal prison
Wire fraud, illegal monetary
transactions, and aggravated
Don Cisternino identity theft
PPP $7.2M
Sentence Imposed: 8 years
and 6 months in federal
prison
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, wire fraud, aggravated
Keith Ingersoll identity theft 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
Bank fraud
Joseph Faubert PPP $778k
Sentenced Imposed: 5 years
probation
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
monetary transaction
Kenneth Landers PPP $1.4M
Sentence Imposed: 1 year in
federal prison followed by 1
year of supervised release
Wire fraud , Theft of
government funds, and
Aggravated identity theft
Christopher Daragjati PPP $150k
Sentenced imposed: 5
years’cisternino imprisonment
followed by 3 years’
supervised release.
This COVID Fraud case from the Jacksonville Division was handled by AUSA Kevin Frein and Michael
Coolican
Fort Myers Division
Bank fraud, false statement to
a financial institution, illegal
Casey Crowther monetary transaction PPP $2.7M
Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1
month in federal prison
Conspiracy to commit wire
fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy
Anthony Bruey to commit money laundering,
PPP/EIDL $881k
illegal monetary transactions
Amber Bruey
Sentence Imposed:
Anthony Bruey: 4 years, 3
months in federal prison
Amber Bruey: 4 years in
federal prison
False statement to a lending
institution
Edrica Leann Watson PPP $392k
Sentence Imposed: 15 months
in federal prison
Wire fraud, bank fraud,
money laundering,
aggravated identity theft,
Daniel Joseph Tisone possession of ammunition by PPP/EIDL/MSLP $10.7M
a prohibited person
Sentence Imposed: 7 years in
federal prison
Wire fraud
Liliana Gonzalez Sentence Imposed: 5 years of PPP $169k
probation with 18 months of
home confinement
Bank fraud
Al Clint LaRoche PPP $1M
Sentence Imposed: Two years
in federal prison
Bank fraud and illegal
Denis Casseus PPP $298k
monetary transaction
Sentence Imposed: 2 years in
federal prison followed by 3
years’ supervised release
Wire fraud
Evan Graves EIDL $1.3M
Sentence Imposed: 18 months
in federal prison
Bank fraud
Ismaelle Manuel Sentence Imposed: Credit for PPP $280k
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 M. Casa, Simon Eth, and Yolande Viacava
Ocala Division
Wire fraud
Lavelle Harris Sentence Imposed: Two years PPP $1.2M
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 September 25, 2024
Topics
CORONAVIRUS
ASSET FORFEITURE
DISASTER FRAUD
FALSE CLAIMS ACT
FINANCIAL FRAUD
Component
USAO - Florida, Middle
File and source
- File
- 2024-09-30-Over-100-Defendants-Federally-Charged-With-Fraud-Related-To-The-COVID-19-Pandemic-USAO-MD-FL-09-25.pdf
- Size
- 287,727 bytes
- SHA-256
- 77ec8ef7d1a1a4374c83576ef26358680b7851e2492c06e16ea7089e05f2c31e
- Original
- www.oig.dol.gov