Conrad Brandon Bernard, a 24-year-old man, has pleaded guilty to charges of bank fraud and identity theft after orchestrating a scheme that fraudulently obtained over $1 million in COVID-19 relief loans and unemployment compensation payments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement today.
From May 2020 to December 2022, Bernard applied for 14 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) using the personal identifying information (PII) of other individuals without their consent or knowledge. After the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved these fraudulent applications, Bernard directed the loan funds to various bank accounts under his control. He then transferred the funds to additional accounts, including those he opened using the stolen identities of other victims.
In addition to the EIDL fraud, Bernard also used stolen PII to apply for unemployment benefits in multiple states, including West Virginia and Arizona. These benefits were disbursed without the knowledge of the individuals whose identities were exploited.
In total, Bernard fraudulently acquired $1,083,340 in EIDL loans and unemployment compensation. During the investigation, law enforcement uncovered a series of fraudulent documents in Bernard’s possession, including counterfeit passport cards, fake Florida driver’s licenses, and other identification materials. Authorities also found a database containing PII of thousands of individuals, including names, birthdates, and Social Security numbers.
Bernard is scheduled for sentencing on February 5, 2025, before U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas in Fort Lauderdale. He faces up to 30 years in prison for the bank fraud charges, in addition to a mandatory consecutive 2-year prison term for the aggravated identity theft conviction.
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