Twelve individuals from Lakeland and Winter Haven have been charged with wire fraud in connection to a scheme involving the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), according to an announcement by United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. The indictments, unsealed in Tampa, allege that the defendants are members or associates of the Hood Boys gang based in Lakeland.
The following people have been charged: Jamilah T’Asia Johnson, 25, of Winter Haven; Khalid Preston, 29; Nickolas Lavonsoa Brantley, 25; Alexis Lafaye Flournoy, 34; Quinton Lakeith Owens, 35; Tinika Sykes, 35; Richard James Grimes Jr., 39; Kenny White, 31; Anthony Grant, 31; Jacquez Howard, 27; Treasure Johnson, 28; and Letor’e Webster, 24—all of Lakeland.
According to court documents, these individuals allegedly submitted false PPP loan applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Each claimed to operate a business on their application forms. Authorities state this was not true.
Each defendant reportedly received between $13,854 and $20,416 from these loans. Instead of repaying them or using them for legitimate business expenses as required by law https://www.justice.gov/archives/coronavirus/cares-act, they either sought loan forgiveness—which was granted—or defaulted on repayment. The funds were spent on items such as car payments and purchases at liquor stores, clothing retailers, and gun shops. The total loss is estimated at approximately $236,000.
"An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty."
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG). Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Buchanan and Jeff Chang will prosecute the case.
This prosecution falls under an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation—a multi-agency initiative aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations through coordinated intelligence-driven efforts. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Anyone with knowledge about attempted COVID-19 fraud can contact authorities via the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or submit tips online at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
