Steeve Roberts and his wife Johnnie Jean of Coral Springs. {BSO}
By Kevin Deutsch
Two Coral Springs residents were among four family members arrested for their alleged involvement in a COVID loan fraud scheme, state officials said.
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Steeve Roberts, 39, of Coral Springs, his wife, Johnnie Jean, 42, of Coral Springs, and his nieces Amanda Pierre-Philippe, 21, of Miami, and Stephanie Paul, 26, of Miami for their roles in the fraud plot, according to the FDLE.
A state investigation into the alleged crimes began in March 2021 when Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution discovered Roberts was using funds he obtained from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act as a source of personal income, FDLE officials said.
Investigators learned Roberts fraudulently applied for a Payroll Protection Plan loan and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan, officials said. Roberts also created a shell corporation based out of North Miami Beach, claiming to be in the business services sector, the FDLE alleges.
Deception about the business’ activities and profits and losses, as well as its number of employees, allowed Roberts to receive more than $500,000 in federal COVID relief funds, officials said.
Instead of using the funds for his business, Roberts used the money as a down payment to purchase a Coral Springs home, buy luxury goods, and post bond for a jailed acquaintance, according to the FDLE.
A state investigation revealed several family members were involved in the fraud scheme, including Jean, Pierre-Philippe, and Paul, officials said.
Roberts and Jean face one count each of organized scheme to defraud, conspiracy to commit organized scheme to defraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges, records show. Pierre-Philippe and Paul face one count each of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
“These criminals stole more than half a million dollars by filing fraudulent loan applications to COVID relief programs,” Moody said in a prepared statement. “Money intended to help keep jobs during the pandemic were instead used for their own personal purchases. I am grateful for the strong investigative work by our law enforcement partners working with my statewide prosecutors in this case.”
Steeve Roberts allegedly used a portion of the PPP loan money to put a down payment on this $575,000 home at the 9000 block of NW 47 Court in Coral Springs. {Google Maps}
FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said there would be consequences for the fraud.
“Criminals like this, who think they can commit gross fraud without being caught, and at the expense of law-abiding citizens who honestly relied upon this financial assistance, will not go unpunished,” said Glass.
Roberts and Jean were arrested on June 6 and booked into the Broward County Jail. They are both being held on a $1 million bond, records show.
Pierre-Philippe and Paul were arrested on June 7 and booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County. Both were ordered to be held on a $10,000 bond.
The fraud case will be prosecuted by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, officials said.
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