3 Polk County residents charged in $2M COVID fraud case

Three Polk County residents are facing decades in federal prison for their role in an alleged scheme to steal more than $2 million in COVID relief funds.

Jessie Perlado, 63, and Tameshia Roberson 44, are among 11 people charged Friday with one count conspiracy to commit wire fraud and nine counts of wire fraud. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, if convicted, each of the 11 people charged faces a maximum of 20 years in jail for each count. Perlado is from Lakeland and Roberson is from Winter Haven, officials say. 

The government will seek a forfeiture order for $2.29 million, the proceeds of the fraud says the Justice Department.

Also named in the indictment are Sherell Breus, 40, of Champions Gate; Candice Harper, 37, of Pooler, Georgia; Yashica Carter, 40, of Fort Lauderdale; Brandon Thomas, 39, of Champions Gate; Antwaun Jonson, 39, of Delray Beach; Jessica Sejour, 33, of Greenacres; Vance Houston, 30, of Oakland Park; and Raymound Carvil Sr., 61, of Fort Lauderdale. 

The third Polk resident, Neil Bryant, a 45-year-old Winter Haven resident, was indicted on one count of wire fraud. The Department of Justice, in a statement announcing the charges, describes him as “an associate of one the conspirators.”

According to Justice Department, here is what happened:

Between April 2020 and June 2021, those charged are alleged to have filed multiple fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program applications with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The SBA loan programs were part of a relief package passed during the pandemic to help small businesses survive during the shutdown and the time immediately after.

The Justice Department says the applications all contained fraudulent documentation, including false IRS tax forms.

Once the money came in, those charged would transfer the funds to other accounts belonging to the alleged co-conspirators.

Bryant, charged in the separate indictment, is accused of defrauding the SBA by submitting a fraudulent EIDL application. He faces 20 years in prison if convicted and the government is seeking a forfeiture order for $52,400.

The cases were investigated by the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the FBI. They will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.