FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A former Broward Sheriff’s Office prison lieutenant is dealing with federal fees after prosecutors say he gained greater than $100,000 in fraudulently-obtained COVID-19 reduction loans.
Ernest Bernard Gonder Jr., 41, of Port St. Lucie, was once charged with two counts of cord fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice introduced Friday.
Gonder is accused of falsifying information to obtain $167,750 in Paycheck Protection Program loans, purportedly on behalf of “EBG Properties” and “The Impact Center of Broward County.”
But prosecutors allege that Gonder as an alternative used the cash to “enrich himself.”
According to a biography at the BSO web site, Gonder joined the company in 2001 as a detention deputy and rose the ranks to develop into an government officer at its North Broward Bureau prison facility. He was an ordained pastor in 2010.
A BSO spokesperson mentioned Gonder resigned on Oct. 31 for “personal reasons” whilst below an inside investigation.
Prosecutors mentioned he seemed in federal court docket on Tuesday and may face up to twenty years in jail on every depend.
Gonder is certainly one of greater than a dozen latest or former BSO workers charged with PPP mortgage fraud.
In October, prosecutors charged 17 then-current or former BSO staffers with PPP mortgage fraud. Sources on the time advised Local 10 News that as many as 40 workers are or have been below investigation for COVID-19 fraud.
During a news convention following the arrest of the 17 workers, Sheriff Gregory Tony mentioned “there’s no place for this in this organization.”
“How can we have anyone wearing a badge that is stealing from the American people?” he requested on the time.
Read the indictment:
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