A former Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Department of Detention lieutenant was last month charged with two counts of wire fraud for allegedly fraudulently obtaining a total of $167,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
According to the Department of Justice, on April 1, 2021, Ernest Bernard Gonder Jr., 41, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, allegedly submitted a false and fraudulent PPP loan application misrepresenting EBG Properties LLC’s average monthly payroll and number of employees.
In support of this application, Gonder also allegedly submitted multiple fraudulent IRS Forms 941. As a result of this false and fraudulent application, a New Jersey-based Small Business Administration-approved PPP lender sent $106,000 to a bank account controlled by Gonder in the name of EBG Properties.
Days later, on April 6, 2021, Gonder submitted a second false and fraudulent PPP loan application misrepresenting The Impact Center of Broward County Inc.’s average monthly payroll and number of employees. In support of this application, Gonder also allegedly submitted multiple fraudulent IRS Forms 941. He received $61,210.
Gonder allegedly used the proceeds of the scheme to “enrich himself,” DOJ said. He also sought and received forgiveness for the two PPP loans he received.
Court appearance and charges
On Jan. 30, Gonder made his initial appearance in federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. If convicted, Gonder faces up to 20 years in prison on each count.
U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, several FBI agents, and Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony made the announcement.
These charges stem from the Department of Justice’s ongoing initiative to prosecute fraud in connection with the PPP loan program.
Last year, over a dozen employees at the Broward Sheriff’s Office were charged with fraudulently obtaining PPP loans.
 lieutenant was last month charged with wire fraud for allegedly fraudulently obtaining PPP loans.){kind=link}