FLORIDA – Four people are accused of participating in an elaborate identity fraud and money laundering scheme targeting banks and COVID-19 pandemic relief funds.
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A federal magistrate judge in Miami has unsealed an indictment charging Patrick Ductant, 35, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Kervens Saint-Hilaire, 35, of Hollywood, Fla., and Vladimir Saint-Hilaire, 35, of Hollywood, Fla., with felony offenses, including conspiracy, bank and wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
Terri Shana Davis, 33, of Marietta, Ga., was also charged in the indictment with conspiracy and aggravated identity theft offenses.
According to the indictment, from October 2019 through May 2021, the defendants unlawfully obtained and used personally identifiable information (“PII”) of unknowing victims to apply for and receive bank loans, open bank accounts, acquire credit and debit cards, and conduct financial transactions. Additionally, the indictment alleges that the defendants unlawfully used PII to apply for and obtain COVID-19 pandemic relief funds made available by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
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The indictment also alleges that Davis sold and supplied some of the PII used to carry out the crimes stated in the indictment, which Davis accessed through her employment at a company in Atlanta, Ga.
If convicted, Ductant faces up to 256 years in prison, Kervens Saint-Hilaire faces up to 260 years in prison, Vladimir Saint-Hilaire faces up to 216 years in prison, and Davis faces up to 34 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) made the announcement.
BSO investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Snider is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daren Grove is handling asset forfeiture.
An indictment contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-60119.
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