Tamarac deputy sentenced to prison for COVID-19 relief fraud – Tamarac Talk

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A Tamarac resident and deputy with the Broward Sheriff's Office has been convicted of COVID-19 fraud while serving in her capacity.

Alexandra Acosta, 38, was sentenced to four months in federal prison on Monday after being found guilty of defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Justice Department said.

Acosta, who also served as a member of a Broward Sheriff's Office SWAT team, was found guilty on several counts, including conspiracy to defraud the SBA, making false statements and wire fraud.

The conviction stems from a scheme in which Acosta conspired with her tax preparer, Vilsaint St. Louis, to fraudulently obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2021. Acosta, who falsely claimed to be a sole proprietor working as a real estate agent, filed falsified tax forms with the IRS in support of her application.

She secured over $20,000 in PPP funds, for which she later applied for and received forgiveness.

In addition to her prison sentence, the Chief U.S. District Judge sentenced Acosta to pay a $4,000 fine. However, Acosta has since repaid the fraudulently obtained loan.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, St. Louis, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, has already been convicted for his role in the plot.

This case is part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, which was created in May 2021 to combat pandemic-related fraud.

The Southern District of Florida Attorney General's Office was selected to lead one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force teams in September 2022, further increasing the government's focus on detecting and prosecuting financial crimes related to the pandemic.

The public is encouraged to report any suspected fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs to the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or Justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form

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Sharon Aaron Baron

Sharon Aron Baron is the editor of Tamarac Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Margate Talk, Coconut Creek Talk and Parkland Talk. Tamarac Talk was founded in 2011 to provide news to Tamarac residents and is the No. 1 news source for residents.