A 24-year-old Fort Lauderdale resident admitted guilt on Nov. 15 to orchestrating a fraud scheme that siphoned over $1 million in federal COVID-19 relief loans and unemployment benefits.
Conrad Brandon Bernard pled guilty to charges of bank fraud and identity theft in a case brought before U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas.
Bernard’s scheme, which spanned from May 2020 to December 2022, targeted two federal relief programs: the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, intended to aid small businesses during the pandemic, and unemployment insurance programs designed to support workers displaced through no fault of their own.
Authorities say Bernard exploited these initiatives by filing fraudulent applications and misusing the personal identifying information (PII) of unsuspecting individuals.
According to court documents, Bernard filed 14 fraudulent EIDL applications using stolen identities. Once approved, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) transferred the funds—totaling over $1 million—to bank accounts he opened and operated under stolen identities.
Bernard then funneled the funds into accounts he controlled, all without the knowledge or consent of the victims whose PII he used.
Bernard also defrauded state unemployment systems, including those in West Virginia and Arizona, by filing applications under stolen identities. These fraudulent unemployment benefits were subsequently transferred or withdrawn from accounts linked to the same scheme.
In all, Bernard fraudulently obtained $1,083,340 in EIDL funds and unemployment benefits.
Investigators uncovered an array of fraudulent documents during the probe, including counterfeit passports, fake Florida driver’s licenses, and the personal information of thousands of individuals. Authorities also seized tools Bernard used to manufacture false identification.
Bernard is set to be sentenced on Feb. 5, 2025. He faces up to 30 years in prison for bank fraud, with an additional mandatory two-year term for aggravated identity theft. The final sentence will be determined based on federal guidelines and other statutory considerations.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Conklin of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony.
