A Miami-based social media influencer and singer, Scott Lee Huss, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud. U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore handed down the sentence on September 11.
According to court documents, Huss applied for and received six Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $600,000 by fraudulent means. Instead of using these funds for legitimate business expenses or employee payroll, he spent the money on cryptocurrency and luxury vehicles.
In 2023, Huss attempted further fraud by sending fake payment vouchers, which appeared to be checks, to car finance companies in an effort to clear loans on his vehicles. These false checks totaled more than $300,000 and were used in attempts to obtain a Lamborghini and a Mercedes-Benz.
“Pandemic relief programs were designed to help struggling businesses and families—not to fund luxury lifestyles,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Those who exploited these programs for their personal gain stole from the American people. Our Office will continue holding anyone accountable who defrauded COVID-19 relief funds, regardless of status or notoriety.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Miami and the Diplomatic Security Service Miami Field Office with assistance from several agencies including the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration’s Office of Inspector General, Sunny Isles Police Department, and Aventura Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Berger prosecuted the case.
Additional information related to this case is available through the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or via http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-20087.
