Office of State Attorney
Dave Aronberg

15th Judicial Circuit
Serving the Citizens of Palm Beach County

Office of State Attorney
Dave Aronberg

15th Judicial Circuit
Serving the Citizens of Palm Beach County

Press Release

November 8, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marc Freeman

mfreeman@sa15.org

(561) 355-7263

State Attorney's Office Announces Arrests from Paycheck Protection Program Fraud Task Force

State Attorney Dave Aronberg announced the arrests of three individuals accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $1.1 million from the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program after the loans for small businesses became available in 2020. A task force started this spring by the State Attorney’s Office and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office made these arrests.

Under the PPP and EIDL programs, small businesses struggling financially from the COVID-19 pandemic received billions of dollars in forgivable loans to pay employee salaries and expenses. But a number of individuals across the country used it as a money grab, pretending to run businesses needing help with payroll expenses, interest on mortgages, and rent and utilities.

State Attorney task force investigators have been working on more than two dozen cases to date referred by federal authorities and public tips. The cases amount to over $12 million in fraudulent loans from the program, where applicants have claimed nonexistent employees and other false business expenses.

The newly filed PPP fraud cases, which will be prosecuted in state court, involve felony charges of organized scheme to defraud and money laundering. Probable cause affidavits are provided for these three defendants, each of whom are accused of fleecing the government out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“PPP fraudsters are being exposed one by one,” State Attorney Dave Aronberg said. “They will be held accountable for ripping off taxpayers while our country was in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Their actions were despicable.” The task force Tip Line is 1-844-324-5463.

Main Office Location

401 North Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Main Number: 561-355-7100
Fax Number: 561-366-1800
StateAttorney@sa15.org

North County Office

3188 PGA Blvd.
Palm Bch Gardens, FL 33418
Main Number: 561-624-6630
Fax Number: 561-624-6548

South County Office

200 W. Atlantic Ave., Ste 100
Delray Beach, FL 33444
Main Number: 561-274-1490
Fax Number: 561-274-1498

Belle Glade Office

38844 State Road 80
Belle Glade, FL 33430
Main Number: 561-996-4820
Fax Number: 561-992-1055

Criminal Justice Complex

3228 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Main Number: 561-688-4640
Fax Number: 561-688-4646