A Tampa man was sentenced for stealing over $500,000 in COVID relief funding.
According to the Department of Justice, U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington sentenced 47-year-old Terrance Bradford of Tampa to 30 months in federal prison for obtaining multiple bogus COVID relief loans. As part of his punishment, the court issued an order of forfeiture for $533,648.32, which reflects the proceeds he gained from these actions.
a According to court documents, between April 2020 and March 2021, Bradford created a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting several false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications.
Bradford was asked on these applications whether he had been suspended from contracting with the federal government or if he was now in bankruptcy.
Bradford answered each question with a “no.” Despite Bradford’s certificates, he was barred from receiving federal contracts or grants following an earlier Department of Labor probe.
Furthermore, Bradford’s company was in bankruptcy when he filed his applications.
By concealing this information on his loan applications, Bradford received $533,648.32 in COVID relief money to which he was not entitled, according to the DOJ.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the Central Florida fraud case. Merrilyn Hoenemeyer, an assistant US attorney, prosecuted the case. Suzanne C. Nebesky, an Assistant United States Attorney, is managing the forfeiture case. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
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