2023-08-20 18:42:22
A Miami real estate broker has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after defrauding the US government of US$381,000 from a COVID-19 emergency fund.
According to the New York Post, Daniela Rendon pleaded guilty last April to one count of wire fraud, after being charged in February with six additional counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count identity theft.
Authorities revealed that she falsified records related to her real estate business, altering her payroll, number of employees and cost of products. This allowed him to qualify for a business emergency program and pocket just over $381,000.
The sum notably enabled him to rent a Bentley Bentayga brand vehicle, to rent a luxurious apartment and to acquire several other luxury products.
On Thursday, the 31-year-old from Colombia explained in court that greed motivated her crimes. She allegedly claimed that “everyone was fraudulently getting COVID-19 relief loans,” according to the “Miami Herald.”
Daniela Rendon wrote 30 pages to apologize. The mother-of-three has realized she has harmed several American businesses. Judge Michael Moore considered these elements to justify his lenient sentence. She faced a maximum of 20 years in prison.
“It’s not easy to see that you robbed your neighbors, your friends and other citizens,” he said.
In addition to the prison sentences, Daniela Rendon must repay $198,990 to federal authorities.
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