A South Florida social media influencer and singer has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for orchestrating a multi-year fraud scheme that included stealing COVID-19 relief funds and attempting to use fake checks to buy luxury cars, federal prosecutors said.
U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore sentenced 28-year-old Scott Lee Huss, who goes by Jay Ryako, to 27 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Prosecutors said Huss fraudulently applied for and received six Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $600,000 during the pandemic. Instead of using the funds for legitimate business expenses or payroll, he spent the money on cryptocurrency and luxury vehicles.
In 2023, Huss allegedly mailed fake “payment vouchers” resembling checks to car finance companies in an effort to discharge loans on his vehicles. Court documents show he sent more than $300,000 in fraudulent checks in an attempt to acquire a Lamborghini and a Mercedes-Benz.
“Pandemic relief programs were designed to help struggling businesses and families—not to fund luxury lifestyles,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Those who exploited these programs for their personal gain stole from the American people. Our Office will continue holding anyone accountable who defrauded COVID-19 relief funds, regardless of status or notoriety.”
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office, with assistance from the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, and local police departments in Sunny Isles and Aventura.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Berger prosecuted the case.
Huss’s sentencing serves as a reminder of federal authorities’ ongoing efforts to hold individuals accountable for defrauding pandemic relief programs.
