Connect with us

Published

on

Advertisement


WPLG

Miami, Florida – Federal prosecutors have charged 28-year-old Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident Damara Holness with lying on a coronavirus relief loan application and fraudulently obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to help small businesses financially survive the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the information filed yesterday in federal district court in Fort Lauderdale, in June 2020, Holness applied for a $300,000 forgivable, federally-guaranteed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan on behalf of Holness Consulting, Inc., a Florida company that she owned. It is alleged that to justify the requested loan amount, Holness claimed in the on-line loan application, and through supporting fraudulent payroll tax forms, that her company employed 18 people and spent an average of $120,000 each month on payroll. In fact, Holness Consulting had zero employees and no payroll expenses. A bank in Georgia approved Holness Consulting’s PPP loan application based on the lies and wired $300,000 to the company’s bank account in Florida, says the information.

Once the money hit the bank account in July 2020, Holness spent the next few months creating a paper trail to make it appear as if Holness Consulting had employees and was spending the PPP money on legitimate, approved expenses, it is alleged. According to the information, Holness issued checks from the company bank account made out to others who agreed, for a fee, to help with the fraud. At Holness’ direction, the people receiving the checks would endorse and return them to Holness. Then, Holness would cash the checks at the company’s bank, give a few hundred dollars to the check endorsers, and keep the rest of the cash for herself – about $1,000 per check, says the information.

Advertisement

Damara Holness is a former president of the Broward County Democratic Black Caucus.

The information charges Holness with conspiring to commit wire fraud. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Holness made her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick M. Hunt, who sits in Ft. Lauderdale. Holness was released from custody on a $100,000 personal surety bond.

Juan Antonio Gonzalez, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami, announced the charges.

Facebook Comments



Loading

Advertisement

Crime

‘A Calculated Killer’: Timeline of Utah Mom Accused of Poisoning Husband to Death Detailed

Published

on

By

Advertisement

Thirty-three-year-old Kouri Richins stands accused of murdering her husband, Eric Richins, by poisoning him with fentanyl mixed into a “Moscow (more…)

Loading

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Crime

‘She Looks Terrified’: Brother of Missing Tennessee Woman Nikki Alcaraz Speaks Out

Published

on

By

Advertisement

Nikki Alcaraz and her boyfriend, Tyler Stratton, went missing earlier this month just days after getting into a heated fight (more…)

Loading

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Crime

Bodycam: Missing Tennessee Couple Questioned in New Mexico After Fighting Each Other

Published

on

By

Advertisement

Bodycam footage shows missing Tennessee woman Nikki Alcaraz and her boyfriend Tyler Stratton being questioned by New Mexico police after (more…)

Loading

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Crime5 hours ago

‘A Calculated Killer’: Timeline of Utah Mom Accused of Poisoning Husband to Death Detailed

Crime6 hours ago

‘She Looks Terrified’: Brother of Missing Tennessee Woman Nikki Alcaraz Speaks Out

Crime7 hours ago

Bodycam: Missing Tennessee Couple Questioned in New Mexico After Fighting Each Other

Crime8 hours ago

Bodycam: Naked Man Shot After Allegedly Pointing Rifle at Texas Cops and Neighbors

Crime9 hours ago

Rowlett Man Sentenced To 43 Years In Prison For Cyberstalking, Killing Former Girlfriend

Crime10 hours ago

Bodycam: Two Wisconsin Cops Killed in Deadly Shootout with Man Who ‘Trained to Kill’ Police

Crime11 hours ago

Tennessee Couple Goes Missing During Roadtrip to California Just Days After Alleged Violent Fight

Crime11 hours ago

Dallas man killed woman he used to ‘talk to’ because girlfriend told him to ‘smoke’ her

Crime12 hours ago

‘Heartbreaking’: Law&Crime Panel Discusses 12-Year-Old Girl Accused of Stabbing Brother to Death

Crime13 hours ago

Bodycam: ‘Power Tripping’ Texas Cop Pulled Off Streets After ‘Buc-ee’s’ Traffic Stop

Crime15 hours ago

‘Almost Hit a Child’: Reckless Driver Arrested for Suspected DUI After Plowing onto Beach

Crime15 hours ago

High School In Texas Postpones Graduation After Only 5 Students Met Requirements

Crime16 hours ago

WATCH LIVE: Ex-NFL Player Murder Trial — FL v. Travis Rudolph — Day Four

Crime1 day ago

5 Defendants Who Broke Down in Tears While Testifying at Trial

Crime1 day ago

5 Wildest Times Angry Customers Attacked Fast Food Employees

Crime1 day ago

Principal Accused of Turning Blind Eye to His Son’s Sexual Abuse of 5-Year-Old Girl

Crime2 days ago

‘Fishing for Children’: 20 Alleged Child Predators Arrested in Florida Sex Sting Operation

Crime2 days ago

Garland ISD Bus Driver Saves Student From Suspected Abductor

Crime2 days ago

7 Car Chases That Led to Severe Consequences (COPS)

Crime2 days ago

Drugged Out Man Has Full-on Panic Attack When Cops Attempt to Arrest Him (COPS)

Covid-192 years ago

Nurse Whistleblower Breaks Down, Cries in LIVE Tell-All Interview

Proud Boys2 years ago

Proud Boys fighting Antifa in Portland… Raw

Crime11 months ago

Denton Doc’s Bail Bondsman Arrested After Kicking In Woman’s Front Door Without A Warrant

Missing2 years ago

AT LEAST NINE BODIES DISCOVERED DURING MANHUNTS IN PETITO CASE

John McAfee2 years ago

Watch: Mysterious McAfee Q message posted 30 minutes after his death… John McAfee…. The DEEPSTATE

Crime1 year ago

VIDEO: Man Sought In Murder Investigation Is Shot Dead By Police During Foot Chase In Cincinnati

Crime2 years ago

WATCH: Man Dies After Being Filmed Hanging Off Sky Ride at Amusement Park

Crime2 years ago

Multiple Walt Disney Employees Among 17 Suspects Arrested in Undercover Child Predator Operation

Crime2 years ago

Family of 3, along with dog, found dead in forest in Mariposa County

Crime9 months ago

Female Officer Gets Shot By Suspect During Chase But She Still Manages To Fatally Shoot Him While On The Ground

News2 years ago

Texas Dem Who CNN Touted as a “Voting Hero” Was Just Arrested For Voter Fraud

Crime1 year ago

VIDEO: Woman Fatally Shot After Stabbing Cop Serving Eviction Notice

George Floyd2 years ago

George Floyd Statues in Brooklyn and Newark Painted Black

Wanted1 year ago

WANTED: Police searching for suspect in Queens killing

Election 20202 years ago

Postal Employee Admits Dumping Mail, Including Election Ballots Sent to West Orange Residents

Crime2 years ago

Arizona State Senator Resigns Following Arrest on Seven Felony Child Sex Abuse Charges

Crime9 months ago

‘Rainbow Fentanyl’ Pills, Powder Reported Nationwide

Viral Video2 years ago

BREAKING: POLICE GIVE UPDATE ON WISCONSIN TRAGEDY, CONFIRMS ‘MULTIPLE FATALITIES’ INCLUDING CHILDREN

Car Accident1 year ago

9 Dead, Including 6 Students And A Coach, In Crash Involving University Of The Southwest Golf Teams

Election 20202 years ago

HUGE new evidence pointing to massive voter fraud in Fulton County

Crime9 months ago

Female Officer Gets Shot By Suspect During Chase But She Still Manages To Fatally Shoot Him While On The Ground

Wanted1 year ago

WANTED: Police searching for suspect in Queens killing

Crime1 year ago

VIDEO: Man Sought In Murder Investigation Is Shot Dead By Police During Foot Chase In Cincinnati

Car Accident1 year ago

9 Dead, Including 6 Students And A Coach, In Crash Involving University Of The Southwest Golf Teams

Crime1 year ago

VIDEO: Woman Fatally Shot After Stabbing Cop Serving Eviction Notice

hate crime1 year ago

Video of black suspect beating elderly Asian woman in Yonkers, New York

Viral Video1 year ago

VIDEO: Mentally Deranged Man Starts Stabbing Employees At NYC Museum Of Modern Art! (*Disturbing Footage*)

Crime1 year ago

83-year-old Transgender Serial Killer Arrested for Hiding Body Parts

Crime1 year ago

Killed A Customer: Handyman Charged With Murder After Woman’s Body Found In Septic Tank!

Attempted Murder1 year ago

Former UFC Champion Cain Velasquez Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting At Suspected Child Molester!

Uncategorized1 year ago

WATCH : 17 people executed in broad daylight (Graphic Video)

Crime1 year ago

SEE IT: Off-Duty Officers Go At It With An Armed Driver Outside Of A Bar

Crime1 year ago

Pennsylvania Uber Driver & Mother Of Four Pleaded For Her Life Before Being Shot In The Head … Suspect Arrested!

Assault1 year ago

FLORIDA: Man arrested after shooting dog in the face in Holiday

Crime1 year ago

VIDEO: Knife Wielding Hostage Taker Gunned Down By New Jersey Police

Crime1 year ago

VIDEO: Man dripping in sanitizer catches into flames after getting tased by police in New York

Crime1 year ago

VIDEO: Austin police officer punch woman resisting in the head

Assault1 year ago

Video: Burger King employee beaten over slow service in Brooklyn

Crime1 year ago

New Shocking Video in Fatal Burlington Store Shooting of 14-Year-Old Released

Crime1 year ago

Man destroys merchandise, tries setting Palm City 7-Eleven on fire

Trending

Copyright © 2021 Trending Crime by TSD