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Five Arrested In CARES Act Fraud Case, Including Man That Bought A Corvette
December 2, 2020
Five people have been arrested for their alleged involved in CARES Act fraud, including on the purchase a Corvette.
Antonio Slocum Jr., Megan Slocum, Ari’obasi Jenkins, Alyssa Cole, and Elijah Simmons were all charged with grand theft and scheme to defraud. Daniel Cole was also arrested for unrelated drug charges.
On Tuesday, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office served seven search warrants throughout Escambia County involving CARES Act fraud. Five suspects were arrested for stealing victims’ identities and information to obtain CARES Act loans and defrauding financial institutions if amounts from $4,000 to $70,000.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg. We anticipate many more days of investigation and many more arrests. It is infuriating that the money intended to help those in need was used and fraudulently obtained in this manner,” said Chief Deputy Chip Simmons.
According to investigators, the suspects would apply and receives CARES Act loans and open accounts at financial institutions including Navy Federal with the intent to scheme and defraud. Jenkins allegedly used stolen funds to purchase a 2017 Corvette.
While serving the search warrants, the ECSO seized 50 fraudulent bank cards, nine firearms, and over 600 other pieces of evidence.
The investigation was conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, ATF, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Department of Homeland Security, Pensacola Police Department, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, Escambia County Corrections, and US Postal Inspector . The Navy Federal Credit Union security team also assisted.
Comments
12 Responses to “Five Arrested In CARES Act Fraud Case, Including Man That Bought A Corvette”
And here I am a single mom that was told they ran out of funds, but if more became available my application would be back open for consideration… meanwhile they’re just giving it way to whomever! /facepalm
LOVE how they managed to approve all of these applications that were fraudulent and can’t even get money to real applicants. The city better be prepared what went wrong with this program. It should not have been this hard. Why are they moving so slowly still? They never meet their own deadlines, they can manage to give almost $100,000 to fake applicants but can’t get anything to people who are about to get their lights turned off, who can’t pay rent or buy food. Why was it so easy for these people to take advantage and so hard for real people to even apply or get an email returned? Sounds like an inside job to me. It will never happen but if the handling of this program and money was investigated there would be a lot of explaining to do. We have millions of dollars sitting around that is supposed to help people and its going to scammers?? How was it SO easy for them to do this? We have been struggling to get an email or a response but this dude bought a car? Really? The city needs to explain how this happened.
Picture of the corvette?
I applied for this program as my family was and still is in need of assistance for utility service bills but was denied.
I completed the application process and also attached proof of the utility services I needed assistance with. Along with proof of all the people in my home.
It floors me that these people were able to defraud the system but a hard working, honest person like myself who is still struggling was DENIED.
It’s very frustrating!!!!
Arrest the ones that approved the applications.
Obviously not doing very good, just approving the Giveaways.
Judge will give them a slap on their hand, release them, to fraud again!
this is why this should have never passed in the first place. people are going to take advantage of it and use it for nonsence.
I was one that applied and received a family grant, Since being out of work coming up on 6 months and with my last heart-attack and pacemaker installed. I will say those that needed the money it has been a god send, We payed bills worked on the house just the normal stuff you do to survive. Shame on these people for making it sound like the program was not a benefit for many after the Hurricanes and Covid-19.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
A Corvette? Thieves aren’t too smart to begin with , but to buy something that expensive is a big red flag. Dumb.
Wow.. And honest people get the run around!!
they want help??????? THEN WE NEED TO HELP THEM RIGHT INTO PRISON,
where they can get all the aid they need!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t stand a thief. I also can’t stand money being handed out so easy This should have never happened.