A Miami-based social media influencer and singer, Scott Lee Huss, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for orchestrating a fraud scheme involving COVID-19 relief loans and attempts to use fake checks to purchase luxury vehicles.
U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore handed down the sentence on September 11 after Huss, 28, pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges. Prosecutors said Huss fraudulently obtained more than $600,000 through six Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by misrepresenting his business needs. Instead of using the funds for payroll or business expenses as intended by the program, Huss spent the money on cryptocurrency and high-end cars.
“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.”
According to court documents, in 2023 Huss sent fraudulent payment vouchers—purporting to be checks—to car finance companies in an attempt to discharge loans on his vehicles. The false checks totaled over $300,000 and were used in efforts to obtain a Lamborghini and a Mercedes-Benz.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Miami and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Miami Field Office, with support from other agencies including the Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration-Office of Inspector General, Sunny Isles Police Department, and Aventura Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael Berger prosecuted the case.
Further details about this case can be found at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 25-cr-20087.
