BOSTON — Authorities have announced four people, including three from South Florida, are facing federal charges for their roles in a pandemic relief fraud scheme.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the four suspects were involved in a multi-state scheme designed to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program funds by submitting fraudulent applications to PPP lenders.
The suspects were identified as Sniders Jean-Jacques, 38, of Miami; Tanya Pierre, 28, of Miami; Ashley Spike, 31, of Miramar; and Lorne Johnson, 38, of Boston.
Investigators said starting in March 2021, the four suspects recruited borrowers who were ineligible for PPP loans but claimed they operated businesses that qualified them for loans, creating fake tax forms to back up the fraudulent applications.
The four suspects would collect up to 30% of the loan proceeds as a fee, authorities said.
The suspects got about $7 million in PPP funds they weren’t entitled to, according to a DOJ news release.
All four are facing a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater, if convicted.
Additionally, Jean-Jacques and Pierre are facing charges in a separate indictment with conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud related to a scheme to obtain mortgage loans and apartment leases.
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