MIAMI, Fla. — A Miramar woman has been charged with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief funds and allegedly using the money for a luxury car lease and high-end purchases, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO).
Cassandra Yolanda Clarke, 45, appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Fort Lauderdale last week following charges of wire fraud and money laundering, the USAO announced. Prosecutors allege Clarke submitted fraudulent applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) lenders on behalf of Narotique Med Spa LLC and Narotique Beauty Bar Inc.
According to the indictment, Ms Clarke created and submitted false IRS tax forms with her applications, resulting in the receipt of approximately $851,894 in COVID-19 relief funds. Federal authorities allege Clarke used the money to lease a Bentley Bentayga and make luxury purchases at the Bal Harbour Shops.
The indictment charges Ms Clarke with three counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and up to 10 years for money laundering.
According to the USAO, sentencing would be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe made the announcement of the charges for the Southern District of Florida and FBI Miami Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri.
The case was investigated by FBI Miami’s Palm Beach Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
