BROWARD COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — Broward Sheriff’s Office arrested 15 of their own sworn law enforcement and corrections deputies.
Today, Sheriff Gregory Tony held a press conference along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General to announce that 15 employees have been arrested on federal charges related to fraud in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Additionally, one current employee and one former employee voluntarily surrendered at the federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale. All individuals are now facing federal fraud charges connected to the PPP loan program.
Sheriff Tony stated that these federal charges against more than a dozen Broward Sheriff’s Office employees are the result of an investigation initiated by BSO’s Office of Inspector General. The investigation began in November 2021 when they noticed a rise in PPP fraud within public service agencies.
Shortly after, a BSO employee tipped off the Public Corruption Unit about several employees potentially involved in PPP fraud. Upon receiving this information, I ordered a comprehensive investigation into all 5,600 BSO employees from top to bottom since it was suspected that some may have engaged in fraudulent activities to defraud the government. Detectives from BSO’s Public Corruption Unit discovered that over 100 employees had submitted applications for PPP loans. However, only those who obtained loans unlawfully were subject to criminal investigation.
To ensure a comprehensive and unbiased investigation, BSO collaborated with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Reserve Board Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” Sheriff Tony stated.
Here is the list of employees from the Department of Law Enforcement who are facing charges related to wire fraud;
- Deputy Alexandra Acosta, 37-years-old, hired on June 3rd, 2013
- Sergeant George Anthony III, 50-years-old, hired on April 23rd, 2001
- Deputy Rorie Brown, 42-years-old, hired on October 3rd, 2005
- Deputy La’Keitha Lawhorn, 41-years-old, hired on March 26th, 2007
- Deputy Derrick Nesbitt, 46-years-old, hired on June 10th ,2002
- Deputy Marcus Powell , 27-years old, hired on February 29th ,2016
- Deputy Stephanie Smith , 53 years old,hired on March 18th, 1996
- Deputy Jean Pierre Toussant 35-years-old, hired on September 12th ,2017
Here is the list of employees from the Department of Detention who are facing charges related to wire fraud;
- Deputy Katrina Brown ,46 years old, hired on April18th ,2016
- Deputy Ke’Shondra Davis ,33yearsold, hired on February29th, 2016
- Deputy Allen Dorvil ,37yearsold, hired on March 6th, 2017
- Deputy Ritchie Dubuisson, 25-years-old, hired on October 28th, 2019
- Former Deputy Keith Dunkley, 46, hired on February 5th, 2007
- Deputy Alexis Greene, 46, hired on May 21st, 2007
- Deputy Jewell Johnson, 46, hired on December 4th, 2017
- Sergeant Ancy Morancy, 33, hired on February 22nd, 2016
- Deputy Carolyn Wade, 48, hired on December 9th, 2002
