Three Defendants Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in Miami

Strategic Insights -

Miami federal court has seen the initial appearance of Guillermo Lopez Carrazana, Christian Mendoza, and Max Alberto Mera Ulloa, three residents of Miami-Dade County, who are accused of conspiring to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through false and fraudulent applications. According to the allegations, between May 2020 and March 2021, the defendants submitted over 165 fake applications, netting them $6.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds. It is further alleged that the trio engaged in a kickback scheme, offering and receiving payments for referring individuals to participate in the fraudulent loan applications.

Key Takeaways:

  • The defendants allegedly submitted over 165 false and fraudulent PPP loan applications between May 2020 and March 2021, resulting in $6.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
  • The trio allegedly operated various businesses, including G LUX LLC, Global Tax & Accounting Group Corp, CM Logistics Systems LLC, and Max Mera Corporation.
  • The indictment alleges that the defendants engaged in a kickback scheme, offering and receiving payments in exchange for referring additional individuals to participate in the fraudulent loan applications.
  • The defendants allegedly used the proceeds from the PPP loans to enrich themselves, rather than for their intended purpose.
  • U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O'Byrne, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.
  • FBI Miami and IRS-CI, Miami Field Office, are investigating the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz prosecuting the case.

Statistics:

  • 165: The number of fake PPP loan applications allegedly submitted by the defendants between May 2020 and March 2021.
  • $6.5 million: The amount of COVID-19 relief funds allegedly received by the defendants through the fraudulent loan applications.
  • May 2020: The starting date of the alleged conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
  • March 2021: The end date of the alleged conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Sources:

  • United States Department of Justice (National Center for Disaster Fraud)
  • District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov (http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov and http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov)