Two brothers, one from Miramar and one from Lake Worth, were indicted in Fort Lauderdale for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in COVID-19 pandemic relief loans and advances from the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

According to the indictment, from March 2020 through December 2021, the brothers submitted applications to the SBA for EIDL program loans seeking nearly $5 million for businesses that did not exist before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and did not have any revenue or other business activity. As a result of the false and fraudulent applications, the SBA disbursed approximately $2.5 million in loan proceeds and advances to the brothers, who in turn allegedly used the funds to enrich themselves and others.

The indictment charges each brother with multiple counts of wire fraud. If convicted, one brother faces up to 80 years in prison and the other faces up to 60 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.