Alexandra Acosta, a 10-year BSO veteran, was sentenced on Tuesday, August 27, to four months in prison after a Miami federal jury found her guilty of defrauding tens of thousands of dollars in government loans (along with her tax preparer, Vilsaint St Louis) intended to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acosta, 38, of Tamarac, Florida, is one of the 17 BSO deputies to be sentenced in an over 3-year-long investigation into over 70. This began in November 2021 after the Sheriff’s Office of Inspector General started to look at which employees had received paycheck-protection funds (also known as PPP loans), intended to be completely forgivable loans for small businesses.
“I think it’s crazy.” Said Paris Crooks, a senior. “These people are supposed to protect us.”
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) was a bill that provided emergency aid and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and signed into law by President Donald Trump. An over $2 trillion package that lasted until September 30, 2021.
Acosta falsely claimed to be a realtor and submitted falsified information about her income, including two forged IRS tax forms. She was granted under the CARES Act with principal and interest surpassing $20,000, which she later requested to be forgiven.
“It’s basically free money.” Said Alicia Cornell, a 12th grader.
Acosta was not the only BSO charged with fraud. Stephanie Diane Smith, 54, from Sunrise, was charged with two counts of wire fraud earlier this year.
Smith also applied under the Paycheck Protection Program with counterfeit records for her two businesses, Children 1st Basketball Training Inc. and as the manager for Agape Smith Vending LLC. She provided faked payroll, revenue, and tax records, the jury found. Smith was given $20,863 in a loan guaranteed by the Small Business Administration.
Acosta’s conviction comes with the remainder of the concerning trend of Paycheck Protection Program loan fraud that has been rampant among South Florida officials and administrators. A number of them purchase Lamborghini, Tesla, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, and Bentley cars with their illicitly obtained loans.
“I hated to see some of the names on that list,” Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony said during a news conference at BSO’s headquarters after the arrests. “Some of them were good officers.”
It’s estimated the amount of money stolen from all 17 parties is over half a million according to the Department of Justice.
South Florida’s list of PPP Loan fraudsters also includes the daughter of the former congressional candidate and ex-Broward County mayor, who loaned over 300,000 illegally while working for her father’s commission campaign as a treasurer. A Miami real estate broker who used her illegal funds to lease a Bentley Bentayga Hybrid and Andre Lorquet, who stole over 4 million dollars in COVID-relief funds, using over 300,000 of it to purchase a custom-made diamond necklace with a pendant of the city of Miami skyline. He was sentenced to 6 years in jail.
