Federal prosecutors in Tampa have indicted eleven individuals for allegedly stealing more than $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced that Sherell Breus, Jessie Perlado, Candice Harper, Yashica Carter, Brandon Thomas, Antwaun Jonson, Jessica Sejour, Tameshia Roberson, Vance Houston, and Raymound Carvil Sr. face one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud each. If convicted, they could each receive up to 20 years in federal prison per count. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of $2,294,734.50, which authorities say represents the proceeds from the alleged offenses.
According to the indictment, between April 2020 and June 2021 the group submitted multiple false applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through the Small Business Administration. These programs were established under the CARES Act to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment states that fraudulent documentation was used in these applications—including falsified Internal Revenue Service tax forms—and that some of the money received was transferred among accounts belonging to co-conspirators.
A separate indictment charges Neil Bryant with one count of wire fraud for submitting a fraudulent EIDL application. Prosecutors allege Bryant obtained $52,400 through this scheme and are seeking forfeiture of that amount if he is convicted.
“An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.”
The cases were investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer will prosecute them.
Anyone with information about attempted COVID-19 relief fraud can report it through the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
