A Broward Sheriff’s Workplace (BSO) deputy from Dawn, Florida, was discovered responsible by a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale on March 5 of two counts of wire fraud associated to a COVID-19 aid fraud scheme.
Stephanie Diane Smith, age 53, who labored as a deputy sheriff in BSO’s Division of Legislation Enforcement throughout the scheme, utilized for and acquired two Paycheck Safety Program (PPP) loans in 2021 beneath the guise of her companies, Kids 1st Basketball Coaching and Agape Smith Merchandising.
Nevertheless, she supplied false details about the companies’ earnings in 2019, together with submitting falsified IRS tax varieties with every software. Smith managed to safe forgiveness for each loans, totaling over $31,000 in principal and curiosity.
The sentencing is about for Might 29 earlier than U.S. District Decide James I. Cohn, with Smith going through a most of 20 years in jail for every wire fraud conviction. The court docket will take into account numerous elements, together with the U.S. sentencing tips, earlier than figuring out the sentence.
The announcement was made by U.S. Lawyer for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony of BSO, and different officers.
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Smith amongst a number of BSO staff charged
Smith was amongst 17 BSO staff charged in a wide-ranging PPP mortgage fraud investigation final 12 months.
Sheriff Gregory Tony informed reporters in October 2023 that every one 17 staff can be fired.
“In the event that they’re being criminally charged, there’s no place for this on this group and their due course of parts shall be executed and we are going to undergo that course of, however this one here’s a no-brainer. How can we’ve anybody carrying a badge that’s stealing from the American individuals?” Tony mentioned on the time.
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Smith’s case was investigated by FBI Miami, the Federal Reserve System and the Shopper Monetary Safety Bureau Workplace of Inspector Normal, and BSO. Prosecutors David Snider and Trevor Jones are dealing with the case, with Assistant U.S. Lawyer Darren Grove overseeing asset forfeiture.
