Amid the remnants of a pandemic, a new narrative unfolds as the owner of Med Spa faces charges of exploiting COVID-19 relief efforts for personal opulence. Cassandra Yolanda Clarke, a 45-year-old from Miramar, Fla., appeared before a magistrate in Fort Lauderdale, indicted for supposedly using deceitful means to obtain federal aid, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The indictment details Clarke's alleged submission of fraudulent applications for both Narotique Med Spa LLC and Narotique Beauty Bar Inc., in an attempt to garner funds from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and PPP participating lenders. The documents suggest an elaborate scheme, where Clarke is accused of forging IRS tax forms to support the applications. From this venture, she reportedly received around $851,894.
However, rather than using the funds to uphold her businesses during the height of an unpredictable pandemic, Clarke is charged with channeling the money towards leasing a Bentley Bentayga and splurging on luxury goods at the Bal Harbour Shops. The indictment specifies three counts of wire fraud and an equal number of counts of money laundering. Conviction could mean up to 10 years for money laundering and 20 years for wire fraud charges, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case, brought to light by the collaborative efforts of the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI's Miami Field Office, stresses a broader narrative about pandemic relief fraud. The Southern District of Florida was chosen by the Attorney General to lead one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams, aiming to combat large-scale fraudulent activities linked to the pandemic, according to the same press release.
This narrative is part of ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice, which established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force in May 2021. The task force aims to harness government resources to fight pandemic-related fraud and assist in safeguarding the administration of relief programs. Public members with knowledge of COVID-19 related fraud attempts are encouraged to report them to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline or through the NCDF Web Complaint Form.
While the allegations portend a serious misuse of resources intended to alleviate pandemic-induced economic strain, it should be noted that an indictment remains a mere allegation. Clarke, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Court documents and further case information can be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or the PACER service center, under case number 24-cr-60227.
