A Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy and SWAT team member has been convicted of COVID-19 relief fraud, prosecutors announced. Alexandra Acosta, 38, of Tamarac, Florida, was found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration, two counts of false statements to the SBA, and wire fraud.
Acosta’s scheme involved applying for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2021, claiming to be a sole proprietor doing business as a realtor. However, she provided materially false information about her average monthly income in 2019, including two falsified IRS tax forms. As a result, she received over $20,000 in principal and interest for the loan, which she later sought and received forgiveness for.
Acosta’s coconspirator, Vilsaint St Louis, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to one year of probation, a $5,000 fine, and 100 hours of community service.
The sentencing hearing for Acosta is scheduled for August 27, before U.S. Senior District Judge Robert N. Scola. She faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conviction, 5 years in prison for the conspiracy conviction, and 2 years in prison for each of the false statement convictions.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Reserve Board-Office of the Inspector General, the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI Miami Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trevor Jones and Adam Love are prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren Grove handling asset forfeiture.
The conviction is part of the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal resources and enhance efforts to investigate and prosecute pandemic-related fraud.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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