A Miami real estate broker receives jail time for using COVID relief funds for luxury items.
In April, Daniela Rendon admitted her guilt to a single wire fraud charge. This followed her indictment in February on six more charges related to wire fraud, along with two charges of money laundering and one charge of aggravated identity theft.
Rendon exploited the relief programs by fabricating records associated with her real estate enterprise. This included manipulating her annual revenue, payroll, product costs, IRS tax information, and employee count. As per the federal indictment, she ultimately secured a $371,290 PPP loan and a $10,000 EIDL loan.
Instead of utilizing the funds for valid business expenses, Rendon chose to squander the unexpected wealth on leasing a 2021 Bentley Bentayga, which she proudly showcased on her Instagram account. Additionally, she rented a lavish apartment overlooking Biscayne Bay. Her illicit profits were also directed towards covering cosmetic procedures and renovating her collection of designer shoes.
During her sentencing on Thursday, Rendon acknowledged that her actions were driven by relentless greed. She stated that her motivation stemmed from the widespread fraudulent acquisition of COVID-19 relief loans during that period.
After federal authorities exposed Rendon’s exploitation, she realized that her actions were not directed at the U.S. government. Instead, she had inflicted harm upon numerous individuals and businesses severely impacted by COVID-19.
Nevertheless, Rendon will spend three and a half years in prison for the crimes and receive a fine of $198,990.
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