A Broward Sheriff's Office deputy has been found guilty on charges of defrauding the Small Business Administration's COVID-19 relief program, as reported on June 7 by the Department of Justice. Deputy Alexandra Acosta was convicted by a federal jury in Miami for her involvement in a scheme to secure a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan using falsified information about her 2019 income and subsequently receiving loan forgiveness. Acosta, a 38-year-old from Tamarac, Florida, and the first female member of the BSO's SWAT team, now faces significant prison time.
According to the Department of Justice, in collaboration with her tax preparer, Vilsaint St Louis, Acosta sought over $20,000 under false pretenses,, illustrating a betrayal of trust within a system intended to support legitimate businesses during the pandemic. St Louis has already faced the consequences of his actions, having pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and been sentenced on May 14 to probation, a fine, and community service.
The charges for which Acosta was found guilty include conspiracy to defraud the government, wire fraud, and making false statements. Each of these carries its own weight of potential incarceration: up to 20 years for the wire fraud conviction, 5 years for the conspiracy conviction, and 2 years for each count of making false statements. The sentencing hearing for Acosta is scheduled for August 27, where U.S. Senior District Judge Robert N. Scola will determine her punishment taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and various statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the FRB-OIG, and BSO, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trevor Jones and Adam Love prosecuting. It's part of a broader initiative to clamp down on COVID-19 relief fraud. The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, established by the Attorney General on May 17, 2021, focuses on combating fraudulent actors through strategic collaboration across government agencies. Furthermore,, the Southern District of Florida has been singled out for its noteworthy role in these efforts, spearheading one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams since September 15, 2022.
With the pandemic relief efforts having been exploited by various perpetrators, the Department of Justice urges the public to report any suspected fraudulent activity relating to COVID-19 relief programs. This can be done by contacting the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or through their online NCDF Web Complaint Form. Details and updates on the case can be accessed through the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or via their PACER service, under case number 23-cr-60170.
