Federal prosecutors charged a slew of Florida residents and one Bostonian across two fraud cases, which each level charges of faking financial records or applications for mortgage loans and COVID-era paycheck protection programs.

Sniders Jean-Jacques, 38, of Miami, Florida, is the top defendant in each case and is accompanied in both cases by Tanya Pierre, 28, also of Miami, who federal prosecutors said served as Jean Jacques’ assistant. Both of them appeared in federal court for an initial appearance in Miami and will appear in Boston at a later date.

Mortgages

Jean-Jacques operated a tax preparation and credit repair business with offices in both Miami and Boston, according to court documents. Federal prosecutors allege that he and his associates helped applicants for mortgage loans or apartment rentals who had bad credit through fraudulent means. In all, prosecutors allege schemes were used to apply for more than $6.7 million and obtain more than $3.7 million in mortgage loans as well as dozens of apartment rentals for unqualified applicants.

Methods of deception alleged in the indictment include faking paystubs and forging bank statements that indicated ability to pay mortgages or rentals, adding fraudulent applicants to the credit accounts of others so it falsely boosted their credit scores, and even applied for rentals under the identities of others — including Pierre — so landlords wouldn’t know the actual identity of their tenants.

Also charged in this case were German Olivio, 41, of Westin, Florida, who is accused of altering bank statements and deposits in favor of the fraudulent applicants; Jim Kelly Michel, 50, of Delray Beach, Florida, who is accused of providing the “tradelines” — or linking fraudulent applicants to the credit accounts of victims with strong credit histories — as well as victim Social Security numbers; and Rosalie Clement-Jackson, 55, of Sunrise, Florida, who federal prosecutors say was a mortgage broker who directed the unqualified applicants to Jean-Jacques’ services.

All of the defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud. All of them will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Pandemic relief fraud

Jean-Jacques was allegedly a very busy fraudster since he is also charged with directing a $7 million pandemic relief fraud scheme along with his assistant, Pierre.

Federal prosecutors say that in this scheme, the defendants submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program applications on behalf of other borrowers and took 30% off the top of any money awarded as their fee for securing it.

Jean-Jacques and Pierre were allegedly joined by two others in this scheme: Lorne Johnson, 38, of Boston, and Ashley Spike, 31, of Miramar, Florida. Prosecutors say that the four of them worked to recruit borrowers who were ineligible for PPP loans and then assembled fake documents to make it look like they each operated businesses that qualified them for the loans.

Jean-Jacques and Pierre appeared in federal court in Miami upon their arrest for this and the other indictment. Spike appeared in court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Johnson appeared in federal court in Boston, where the others will eventually be brought to appear.

Each was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Possible penalties

The wire fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. The charge of wire and bank fraud conspiracy provides an even greater maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater.