The 17 employees are accused of fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe said.
In total, they received around $500,000 in assistance unlawfully that they diverted for their personal use, Lapointe said.
There are 17 employees, including 16 who are facing wire fraud charges and one who’s facing conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Stephanie Diane Smith, 53.
According to the complaint affidavit, Smith applied for and received two PPP loans on behalf of herself as a sole proprietor doing business as Children 1st Basketball Training and Agape Smith Vending, respectively, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax form submitted with her applications. The complaint further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Smith sought forgiveness of the PPP loans she received.
According to the complaint, Smith has been employed by BSO since approximately 1996 and held the title of Deputy Sheriff in BSO’s Department of Law Enforcement
Katrina Brown, 46.
According to the indictment, Brown applied for and received two PPP loans on behalf of herself as a sole proprietor, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with her applications.
In addition, Brown submitted an application to the SBA for an EIDL that contained materially false information, including, among other things, borrower’s gross revenues, cost of goods sold, and number of employees.
Brown has been with BSO since 2016 working for the Department of Detention.
Alexandra Acosta, 37.
According to the indictment, Acosta applied for and received a PPP loan on behalf of herself as a sole proprietor, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with her application.
Acosta has been with BSO since 2013.
La’Keitha Victoria Lawhorn, 41.
According to the indictment, Lawhorn applied for and received three PPP loans on behalf of herself and her company, Home Empire Enterprises, LLC, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s average monthly payroll and annual gross receipts, as well as falsified IRS tax forms submitted with her applications.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Lawhorn sought forgiveness of the fraudulent PPP loans she received.
Lawhorn has been with BSO since 2007.
Jewell Farrell Johnson, 46.
According to the indictment, Johnson applied for and received two PPP loans, one on behalf of herself as a sole proprietor and one on behalf of LRJ Enterprises of South Florida, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s average monthly payroll, as well as falsified IRS tax forms submitted with her applications.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Johnson sought forgiveness of the fraudulent PPP loans she received. Additionally, Johnson allegedly applied for a loan through the EIDL program for her company, G.I.G Productions LLC, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s annual gross revenue in 2019.
Johnson has been with BSO since 2017 working for the Department of Detention.
Carolyn Denise Wade, 48.
According to the indictment, Wade applied for and received a PPP loan on behalf of herself as a sole proprietor based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with her application.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Wade sought forgiveness of the PPP loan she received.
Wade has been with BSO since 2002 working for the Department of Detention.
Rorie Brown, 42.
According to the indictment, Brown applied for and received one PPP loan on behalf of himself as the sole proprietor, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2020, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
In addition, Brown submitted an application to the SBA for an EIDL that contained materially false information, including, among other things, the borrower’s gross revenues, cost of goods sold, and number of employees.
Browan has been with BSO since 2005.
Alexis Monique Greene, 47.
According to the indictment, Greene applied for and received two PPP loans based upon materially false information about the borrower’s gross income and purpose for the loan, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with her applications.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Greene sought forgiveness of the PPP loans she received.
Greene has been with BSO since 2007 working in the Department of Detention.
Ritchie Noah Dubuisson, 25.
According to the indictment, Dubuisson applied for and received a PPP loan based upon materially false information about the borrower’s gross income and purpose for the loan, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Dubuisson sought forgiveness of the PPP loan he received.
Dubuisson has been with BSO since 2019 working for the Department of Detention.
Keshondra Tameisha Davis, 37.
According to the indictment, Davis applied for and received a PPP loan based upon materially false information about the borrower’s gross income for the year 2019 and purpose for the loan, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with her application.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Davis sought forgiveness of the PPP loans she received.
Davis has been with BSO since 2016 in the Department of Detention.
Allen Dorvil, 33.
According to the indictment, Dorvil applied for and received a PPP loan based upon materially false information about the borrower’s gross income and purpose for the loan, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the fraud scheme, Dorvil sought forgiveness of the PPP loan he received.
Dorvil has been with BSO since 2017.
Jean Pierre-Toussant, 35.
According to the indictment, Pierre-Toussant applied for and received one PPP loan on behalf of himself as a sole proprietor based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
Pierre-Toussant has been with BSO since 2017.
Ancy Morancy, 33.
According to the indictment, Morancy applied for and received one PPP loan on behalf of himself as the sole proprietor of Moore Services Investment Group, LLC, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
Morancy, a sergeant with the Department of Detention, has been with BSO since 2016
Marcus Errol Powell, 37.
According to the indictment, Powell applied for and received one PPP loan on behalf of himself as the sole proprietor of Bonvivant Industries, LLC, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2020, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
Powell has been with BSO since 2016.
Derrick J. Nesbitt, 46.
According to the indictment, Nesbitt applied for and received two PPP loans on behalf of himself as the sole proprietor of Designer Life, LLC, based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
Nesbitt has been with BSO since 2002.
Keith Dunkley, 46.
According to the information, Dunkley conspired to cause the submission of false and fraudulent applications and received funds for one PPP loan and one EIDL on behalf of himself as a sole proprietor and for Global Group Alliances, LLC, which applications included materially false information about, among other things, the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application.
Dunkley was hired by BSO in 2007.
George Anthony III, 50.
According to the indictment, Anthony applied for and received one PPP loan on behalf of himself as a sole proprietor based upon materially false information about the borrower’s total gross business income for the year 2019, as well as a falsified IRS tax form submitted with his application. In addition, Anthony unsuccessfully applied for a second PPP loan using the same false information.
Anthony, a sergeant, was hired by BSO in 2001.
NBC Miami contacted the employees’ union that represents the BSO, who said the employees are entitled to and will receive due process through the court system.
“Currently, we are not privy to all of the investigative facts. Regardless, employees and all citizens are entitled to and shall receive due process through the court system,” Matt Cowart, the president of the International Union Police Association (I.U.P.A.) Local 6020, said in part. “The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) is a large agency and contains approximately 5,500 employees. Many of these approximately 5,500 employees risk their lives daily and some unfortunately pay the ultimate sacrifice with the loss of their own lives in their effort to protect the community. The men and women all around BSO work tirelessly to keep the citizens of Broward County safe and are proud to come to work daily to protect and serve.”
Brian Silber, the attorney representing Wade and Acosta, told NBC6 his clients will be pleading not guilty to the charges.
“My clients are proud public servants. They are proud to work in the Sheriff’s Office. They are proud to serve their community and I would the public to be fair and treat them with the same respect as anybody else,” Silber said. “Being arrested doesn’t mean a darn thing. Being accused doesn’t mean a darn thing.”