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)