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Press Release

Over 100 Defendants Federally Charged With Fraud Related To The COVID-19 Pandemic

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 or otherwise inappropriately obtained PPP funds.  As an example of the latter scenario, 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—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, 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

Defendant(s) (Age)

Charge(s)

Max. Imprisonment

Type of Fraud*

Intended Loss Amount

Tampa Division

Devontaie Deravil

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

Access device fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

UI$480k
Jordan Ross

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

EIDL/PPP$1.3M

Marquett James

Alyson Marquett

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL/PPP$96k
Willie Murray Jr.

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

HCF$5M
Charles Driver Jr.

Conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

Access device fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 10 years

UI$175k
Eric Canonico

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP$2.3M
Alexander Leszczynski

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP$1.1M
Capree Holmes

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL$159k
Javarus Polite

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$20k
Luis Morales

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$40k
Rosson Hamilton

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$20k
David Antonetti

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$40k
Carlos Dones

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$14k
Santos Cruz Rivera

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$16k
Tevyan Hepburn

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$20k
Jeanty Cherilus

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL/PPP$370k
Gage Bowen

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$20k
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

Evan Edwards

Joshua Edwards

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

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

PPP$8M
Emmet Bowens

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP$740k
Latresia Wilson

False statements

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

HCF$2.6M

Shawn Simmerer

Seth Downes

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

False claim

Maximum Prison Term: 5 years

PPP$344k


 

Daniel Bohorquez

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

EIDL$546k
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

Venera Price

Mail fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

ERAP$82k
Timothy Jolloff

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Money laundering

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP/EIDL$2.1M
Lisa Jolloff

Money laundering

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Illegal monetary transactions

Maximum Prison Term: 10 Years

PPP/EIDL$2.1M
Diop McKenzie

Bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

EIDL/PPP$237k
These COVID Fraud cases from the Fort Myers Division are being handled by AUSA Yolande Viacava and Trent Reichling

Jacksonville Division

Jared Eakes

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

Bank fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 30 years

PPP$4.7M

Natasha Hemming

Tiffany Gonsalves

Joshua Seedhaire

Conspiracy

Access device fraud

Aggravated identity theft

Maximum: Prison Term: Two Years Consecutive

UI$5.6M
These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSAs David Mesrobian and John Cannizzaro

Ocala Division

Lisa Starkes

Ivan Starkes

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$80k
This COVID Fraud case from the Ocala Division is being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

Adjudicated Cases

Tampa Division

Demarius Wilson

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$18k
This COVID Fraud case from the Tampa Division is being handled by AUSA Michael Kenneth

Orlando Division

Robert Burns

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$57k

William Barrientos

Grisoris Barrientos

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL$693k
Angela Chew

Conspiracy

Maximum Prison Term: 5 Years

Bribery of a public official

Maximum Prison Term: 15 Years

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL$732k
These COVID Fraud cases from the Orlando Division are being handled by Amanda Daniels, Diane Hu, and Richard Varadan

Jacksonville Division

James Wigg

Wire Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

PPP$476k
Crystal Harvell

Wire Fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 years

PPP$20k

These COVID Fraud cases from the Jacksonville Division are being handled by AUSA, Kevin Frein

and Tysen Duva

Ocala Division

Passion Jackson

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$20k
Nicole Harding

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

PPP$20k
Henry Wade

Wire fraud

Maximum Prison Term: 20 Years

EIDL$500k
These COVID Fraud cases from the Ocala Division are being handled by AUSA Hannah Nowalk

Sentenced Cases

Tampa Division

Louis Thornton, III

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 42 months in federal prison

EIDL/PPP$815k

Kary Stevenson

Corey Quinn

Conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 5 years, 10 months in federal prison (Stevenson)

Sentence Imposed:7 years in federal prison (Quinn)

UI$1M
Bridgitte Keim

Bank fraud

Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison

PPP$588k
Wayne Ganaway

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 4 years in federal prison

EIDL$300k
Rolanda Wingfield

Access device fraud, aggravated identity theft

Sentenced Imposed: 3 years in federal prison

UI$135k
Eriaius Bentley

Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

Sentence Imposed: One year in federal prison

UI$3M
Tywon Spann

Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

Sentence Imposed: 6 years and 9 months in federal prison

UI$3M
Keaujay Hornsby

Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

Sentence Imposed: 10 years and 10 months in federal prison

UI$3M
Kareem Spann

Racketeering conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud

Sentence Imposed: 10 years and 10 months in federal prison

UI$3M
Randy Jones

Wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison

EIDL/UI$250k
Julio Lugo

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Sentence Imposed: 7 years and 6 months in federal prison

EIDL/PPP$4.4M
Keith Nicoletta

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Sentence Imposed: 24 months in federal prison

PPP$1.9M
Rosenide Venant

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

EIDL/PPP$413k
Melinda Hernandez

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud,

wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

Sentence imposed: Three years and six months in federal prison

UI$1.5M
Bri’antina Mills

Wire fraud and theft of government funds

Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison

EIDL$10K
Jorge Gutierrez Echeverria

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: Two years and six months in federal prison

EIDL$150k
Omar Esquivel Bello

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: 15 months in federal prison

EIDL$242k

Steve Moodie 

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison

UI$1.5M
Richard Simpkins

Conspiracy to commit money laundering

Sentence imposed: 5 years and 10 months in federal prison

PPP$1.9M
Devaris McClain

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, access device fraud

Sentence imposed: 5 years and 1 month in federal prison

UI$85k
Jalissa McDuffy

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: 3 years supervised release with 6 months home detention

PPP$41k
Kieanna Garrett

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: 60 days’ imprisonment

EIDL$40k
Marqus Willard Johnson

Bank fraud

Money laundering

Sentence imposed: 18 months’ imprisonment followed by 60 moths supervised release

PPP$500k
Mehdi Tazi

Conspiracy, Aggravated identity theft

Sentenced imposed: 5 years imprisonment  followed by4 years supervised release

UI$1.5M
Tyree Wingfield

Conspiracy, Aggravated identity theft

Sentenced imposed: 5 years and 10 months imprisonment  followed by4 years supervised release

UI$1.5M
Dawn Ogundele

Theft of government funds

Sentence imposed: 2 years’ probation

PPP$20k
Alexander Alli

Wire fraud conspiracy

Sentence imposed: 13 months’ imprisonment

EIDL$80k
Charles Cunningham  

Bank fraud

Sentence imposed: 21 months’ imprisonment

PPP$800k
Jailyn Holmes

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

PPP$20k
Nicole Bramble-King

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

PPP$40k
Tommy Louisville

Wire fraud

Sentence imposed: 12 months’ imprisonment

PPP$33k
Joseph Abdo

Wire fraud

Illegal monetary transactions

Sentence imposed: 5 years’ probation

PPP$500k
Barrett Purvis

Wire fraud

Money laundering

Sentence imposed: 2 years and 9 months in federal prison

EIDL$499k
Bergeline Lexis

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Sentence imposed: 10 months in federal prison

EIDL/PPP$68k
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

Daniel Johnson

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, unlawful transfer of firearm

Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 6 months in federal prison

UI$2.3M
Jacquavius Smith

Possession of short-barreled rifle; felon in possession of firearm; and aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 7 years, 1 month in federal prison

PPP$10k
Johnson Eustache

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

EIDL/PPP$2.2M
Joseph Harrison

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 12 months in federal prison

UI$2.1M
Tomas Ziupsnys

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; bank fraud; aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 5 years in federal prison

PPP$2M
Holly Urban

Conspiracy to commit bank fraud

Sentence Imposed: 30 months in federal prison

PPP$1.5M
Joel Greenberg

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses while on pretrial release

Sentence Imposed: 11 years in federal prison

EIDL$430k

Don Cisternino 

          

Wire fraud, illegal monetary transactions, and aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 8 years and 6 months in federal prison

PPP$7.2M
Keith Ingersoll          

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft

Sentence imposed: 9 years, 1 month in federal prison.   

EIDL$66k
Jaheim Davis

Access device fraud and aggravated identity theft

Sentence imposed: 3 years, 6 months in federal prison.   

UI$219k
Teresa McIntyre

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other offenses

Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

EIDL$730k
Brian Blake

Possession of device-making equipment, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft

Sentence Imposed: 9 years and 8 months in federal prison

PPP/UI$832k
Joseph Faubert

Bank fraud

Sentenced Imposed: 5 years probation

PPP$778k
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

Jacob Byrd

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

PPP$10k
Deconna Burke

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 5 years’ probation

PPP$20k
Desmond Williams

Wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud

Sentenced Imposed: 5 years’ probation

PPP$40k
Kenneth Landers

Wire fraud and illegal monetary transaction

Sentence Imposed: 1 year in federal prison followed by 1 year of supervised release

PPP$1.4M
Christopher Daragjati

Wire fraud , Theft of government funds, and Aggravated identity theft

Sentenced imposed: 5 years’cisternino imprisonment followed by 3 years’ supervised release.

PPP$150k
This COVID Fraud case from the Jacksonville Division was handled by AUSA Kevin Frein and Michael Coolican

Fort Myers Division

Casey Crowther

Bank fraud, false statement to a financial institution, illegal monetary transaction

Sentence Imposed: 3 years, 1 month in federal prison

PPP$2.7M

Anthony Bruey

Amber Bruey

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, illegal monetary transactions

Sentence Imposed:

Anthony Bruey: 4 years, 3 months in federal prison

Amber Bruey: 4 years in federal prison

PPP/EIDL$881k
Edrica Leann Watson

False statement to a lending institution

Sentence Imposed: 15 months in federal prison

PPP$392k
Daniel Joseph Tisone

Wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person

Sentence Imposed: 7 years in federal prison

PPP/EIDL/MSLP$10.7M
Liliana Gonzalez

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed:   5 years of probation with 18 months of home confinement

PPP$169k
Al Clint LaRoche

Bank fraud

Sentence Imposed: Two years in federal prison

PPP$1M
Denis Casseus

Bank fraud and illegal monetary transaction

Sentence Imposed: 2 years in federal prison followed by 3 years’ supervised release

PPP$298k
Evan Graves

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: 18 months in federal prison

EIDL$1.3M
Ismaelle Manuel

Bank fraud

Sentence Imposed: Credit for time served followed by 5 years supervised release

PPP$280k
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

Lavelle Harris

Wire fraud

Sentence Imposed: Two years and three months in federal prison

PPP$1.2M
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 October 2, 2024

Topics
Coronavirus
Asset Forfeiture
Disaster Fraud
False Claims Act
Financial Fraud