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Miami Journalists Expose PPP Loan Scam, Florida Residents Charged
MIAMI, FL – In a shocking case of COVID-19 relief program abuse, Freddy Urribarri, 42, and Mairilin Munoz, 39, have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The two Venezuelan nationals living in Dania Beach, Florida, allegedly submitted false and fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to obtain Covid-19 era relief money.
According to allegations in the Indictment and statements made in open court, Urribarri and Munoz conspired to commit fraud by submitting false PPP loan applications for Covid-19 relief money meant to help struggling small business owners financially survive the pandemic. The defendants submitted two sole proprietorship loan applications with false and fraudulent supporting tax documents.
The defendants also caused the submission of a false and fraudulent PPP loan application for FU&MM General Services, a company they controlled as president and vice president. The application inflated FU&MM’s income and number of employees. The lender accepted the false representations and approved a loan of about $438,000.
Once they received the loan proceeds, the defendants engaged in a scheme to conceal the nature of the funds. Munoz also engaged in financial transactions over $10,000 using proceeds of the fraud. Urribarri and Munoz also submitted false and fraudulent tax documents in support of a PPP loan forgiveness application.
U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Division, announced the charges. HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bernstein is prosecuting it.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case highlights the importance of monitoring and preventing pandemic-related fraud.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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