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Florida Man Charged with Stealing Over $12 Million in PPE Funds

ATLANTA – 44-year-old Brian Sperber, a resident of Boca Raton, Florida, has been indicted for defrauding personal protective equipment (PPE) purchasers out of over $12 million during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sperber allegedly used the stolen funds to finance his own lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a multi-million-dollar waterfront mansion in Boca Raton.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine, Sperber took advantage of companies and hospitals trying to acquire PPE to protect themselves against the deadly virus. ‘While others were marshalling limited medical resources to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, Sperber allegedly lined his pockets with stolen money that was intended to purchase lifesaving PPE for hospitals and medical institutions,’ Erskine said.

Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, echoed Erskine’s sentiments, stating that the FBI is determined to stop individuals who profit from others’ hardships. ‘Sperber allegedly took advantage of companies trying to direct personal protective equipment to those protecting themselves against a deadly virus,’ Hacker said.

Further investigation revealed that Sperber and a co-conspirator repeatedly sent customers falsified invoices, emails, and other documents to make them believe that their orders were on the way. However, in reality, Sperber and his accomplice had misappropriated the funds.

Even though Sperber was aware of the desperate need for PPE as the pandemic worsened in early 2020, he allegedly used millions of dollars’ worth of his victims’ funds for his own personal use. Sperber’s greed knew no bounds, as he continued to embezzle funds while hospital and medical institutions struggled to obtain the necessary equipment.

Brian Sperber has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and four counts of money laundering. Sperber will be arraigned at a later date in the Northern District of Georgia.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Krepp prosecuting the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sekret T. Sneed handling the forfeiture associated with the case.