TAMPA, Fla. — Documents released Friday said that almost $2.3 million in COVID relief funds were stolen by suspects who “devised a scheme to defraud” the Small Business Administration.
Most of the 11 suspects indicted have Florida ties.
According to the indictment, the suspects submitted multiple “false and fraudulent” Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program applications.
Both of those programs provided economic relief during the pandemic.
“After receiving their fraudulently obtained proceeds, the conspirators transferred a portion of their funds to other accounts belonging to co-conspirators,” a release from the Department of Justice said.
Spectrum Bay News 9’s Andy Cole will have more on this story later today on-air, online and in the Spectrum News app.