A pair of Loxahatchee residents have been charged with conspiracy to defraud banks and federal benefit programs, according to a recent indictment.
Gloria Nereida Valle-Clas, 48, and her husband Alexander Gonzalez, 40, used various aliases to obtain federal housing, social security, food, cash, and medical benefits from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Social Security Administration (SSA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Valle-Clas, who formally changed her name from Nereida Valle to Gloria Nereida Valle-Clas in 2003, used approximately 12 aliases in perpetrating the scheme, most of which were variations on Nereida Valle and Gloria Lopes Clas. Gonzalez used approximately eight aliases, most of which were variations on his birth name, Alexander Jose Gonzalez Flores.
The indictment alleges that Valle-Clas used a social security number originally associated with her birth name to obtain federal benefits, while also using a different social security number to buy real estate in Broward and Palm Beach Counties, including over an acre of property in Loxahatchee, Florida, on which she built an approximately 2,700 square foot residence.
When applying for federal benefits, Valle-Clas failed to disclose her or her husband’s ownership of property, as well as other assets and income. In 2009, after obtaining over $330,000 in mortgages on the Loxahatchee Property, Valle-Clas failed to disclose her receipt of federal benefits in obtaining a $145,000 loan charge-off.
The defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371; six counts of theft of government funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641; four counts of making a false statement to HUD, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001; and one count of making a false statement to an FDIC insured financial institution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014.
The maximum penalties for each of the Section 371 conspiracy and Section 1001 HUD false statement counts are five years’ imprisonment, up to three years supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or not more than twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. The maximum penalty for each of the Section 641 theft of government funds charges is ten years imprisonment, up to three years supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or not more than twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. For the Section 1014 false statement to a bank charge, the maximum penalty is thirty years imprisonment, up to five years supervised release, and a fine of $1,000,000 or not more than twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.
U.S. Attorney Wifredo A. Ferrer stated, ‘Those who defraud our federal benefit programs take resources from the neediest members of our society. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who perpetrate these frauds.’
Related Federal Cases
- Fred Davis Clark Jr. and Cristal R. Clark, Bank Fraud, Florida 2006 · Florida
- Wassim Jamal Abouassali, Bank Fraud, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Orlando Pascual Jr., Medicare Fraud, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Florida 2023 · Florida
- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Florida 2004 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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