A pastor accused of fraudulently collecting more than $8 million in COVID-19 relief aid again in 2020 made a court appearance Wednesday — from his hospital bed.
Evan Edwards appeared in court through zoom from his hospital bed. A choose mentioned that with a view to transfer ahead, they should know Edwards’ present medical situation and psychological state.
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Edwards’ legal professional, Brian Phillips, mentioned he’s submitting a movement for the discharge of Edwards’ medical information.
Phillips informed the choose that he was solely in a position to get about three sentences out of Edwards, calling the communication difficult.
Edwards and his son, Joshua, have been arrested at their New Smyrna Beach residence in early December.
A federal indictment mentioned Joshua Edwards falsified paperwork to use for a paycheck safety mortgage to get greater than $8 million.
The two used their household run, nonprofit church, known as Aslan International Ministry, to use for the mortgage, the indictment reveals.
According to investigators, the church was a entrance, and by no means really held companies.
During the federal investigation, brokers reviewed the ministry’s web site and consider it contained generic non secular information taken from different web sites.
Legal paperwork filed within the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida in Orlando present issues started to unravel for the Edwards household after they tried to buy a $3.1 million residence close to Disney World.
The household fled to Canada when the U.S. Secret Service started its investigation into the fraudulent ministry.
After returning to Florida, Evan Edwards and his son have been indicted on expenses of conspiracy to commit financial institution fraud, financial institution fraud, making a false assertion to a lending establishment and visa fraud.
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