More than a dozen Broward Sheriff’s Office employees are facing charges related to COVID-19 relief fraud, authorities said Thursday.
Authorities have charged 17 Broward Sheriff's Office employees with COVID-19 relief fraud.
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 the 17 employees, including 16 who are facing wire fraud charges and one who's facing conspiracy to commit wire fraud:
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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.
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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, the 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.
The International Union Police Association (I.U.P.A.) Local 6020 is the union for the law enforcement deputies.
Matt Cowart, the union’s president, told NBC6 during an interview, “This was very shocking for everybody involved and again, just going back to it, everyone here realizes these are serious allegations,” adding “If they’re convicted, the sheriff will move forward with termination. He was very clear but again if they beat the charges, they’re entitled to due process like any American.”
He also asked to keep the size of the case in perspective, “There are over 5,500 employees at this agency. We have 1,500 sworn law enforcement deputies and sergeants. Many of them are out there right now risking their lives to keep the communities safe and we do good honest work.”
The union representing the detention deputies, the Federation of Public and Private Employees, declined to comment about the criminal charges, saying they will only handle internal affairs matters.
Most defendants don’t have an attorney on record and they have not entered a plea.
Brian Silber, the attorney representing Wade and Acosta, told NBC6: “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,” adding, “Being arrested doesn’t mean a darn thing. Being accused doesn’t mean a darn thing.” Silber says his clients will be pleading not guilty to the charges.
Jude M. Faccidomo, who is representing Greene, sent NBC6 the following statement: “Ms. Greene looks forward to entering a not guilty plea on October 26. We are especially eager to see what evidence the government has to support these charges. The indictments against these deputies seem to be an intentional mischaracterization. Many of these deputies have legitimate side businesses for which they applied for the loan. More importantly, nearly all of them relied on persons who misrepresented themselves as PPP loan experts who for their own benefit prepared and submitted the applications. And yet, the government seems more interested in embarrassing longstanding members of the law enforcement community than pursuing those really responsible for the fraud.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include statements from the defendants’ unions and some of the defense attorneys.
