## BSO Deputies – Accused in PPP Loan Fraud Yields Mass Indictment
According to an **update on October 12**, Broward Sheriff’s employees, across all ranks started turning themselves in to respond to imminent federal fraud charges. The charges relate to the misappropriation of hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in loans from the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). An announcement is forthcoming revealing dozens of BSO deputies will be indicted.
In anticipation of this, the Sheriff shut down BSO headquarters at 2601 W. Broward Boulevard.
**October 11th saw the prospect of impending accusations** against Broward Sheriff’s Office employees of large-scale fraudulent claims under the federal COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Ranks of BSO deputies and detention deputies, including ranking officers, are involved, though interestingly, Sheriff Gregory Tony is not one of them.
Sources suggest as many as 50 to 70 BSO employees are implicated. About 15 to 20 of these are law enforcement officials while the rest represent jailers and civilians. Several of the people who face federal grand jury accusations have been suspended already.
BSO deputies, both rank-and-file, are “disgusted” by these alleged criminal actions of their colleagues. “After the Parkland [school shooting] incident, we were branded as ‘cowards of Broward’. Now, we are being labelled as the thieves of Broward”, lamented one deputy.
The ongoing federal investigation is led by the [South Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office’s pandemic relief fraud strike force](https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/south-florida-us-attorney-s-office-lead-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-team-against). This entity has charged numerous professionals and business persons with PPP fraud. What stands out, however, is PPP fraud attributed to state and local law enforcement officers running private businesses. This has become a major focus of the strike force activity.
Numerous guilty pleas from former officers across Miami have resulted in convictions involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in improperly used funds. One such case is that of Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract detention officer Anthony Faustin, accused of making fraudulent PPP loan applications.
Faustin will be sentenced on December 7, facing up to 20 years in jail and a fine of $250,000.
The PPP-related grievances against BSO deputies are, however, not all confined to the mass indictment. In fact, one lawyer hinted that his client, a BSO detention deputy accused in another PPP scheme, is dealing with a case “independent” of the mass indictment.
At the heart of these fraudulent activities is the $950 billion PPP scheme. This measure became law as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). It was introduced to support businesses in maintaining their workers throughout the worst of the pandemic. The PPP, administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), ended in May of 2021. Sadly, the scheme became a target for fraudsters who saw an opportunity to take ‘easy money’.
Recent stats reveal that out of $1.2 trillion disbursed in both PPP and COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), over $200 billion (17% of the total amount) went towards potentially fraudulent activities. Relevant agencies, including SBA’s Office of Inspector General and the U.S Secret Service, have managed to recover nearly $30 billion of these misused funds so far.
*FAQs*
**What is the PPP Loan fraud case involving deputies of BSO?**
Broward Sheriff’s employees, including deputies, are facing federal fraud charges for their alleged involvement in misappropriating funds from the COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The surrender of expected 50-70 BSO employees has led to the close down of BSO headquarters in Broward Boulevard.
**Who is leading the ongoing federal investigation?**
The federal investigation is spearheaded by the South Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office’s pandemic relief fraud strike force, which has focused mainly on the PPP fraud committed by state and local law-enforcement officers who have private businesses.
**What was the PPP and why was it introduced?**
The PPP was a $950 billion low-interest business loan program established as a part of the CARES Act aimed at helping businesses, including self-employed ones, continue paying their employees during the worst months of the pandemic. This scheme, however, ended in May 2021.
