Terrance Bradford, a 46-year-old resident of Tampa, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud in federal court. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Bradford admitted to submitting multiple false applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. These programs were part of the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was designed to provide economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court records indicate that Bradford was not eligible for these funds at the time he applied. He had been excluded from receiving any federal contracts and one of his businesses had filed for bankruptcy. The certifications on his loan applications did not disclose this information; if they had, he would have been ineligible for CARES Act funding.
Bradford faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. As part of his sentence, he also faces an order of forfeiture totaling $533,648.32, which represents the proceeds from his criminal conduct.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer is prosecuting the case.
United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe stated: “Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.”
