Keith Ingersoll, COVID-19 Fraud, Florida 2023

TAMPA, FL – The fallout from billions in COVID-19 relief funds continues to flood the federal courts of the Middle District of Florida. A dedicated task force, formed in March 2020, is systematically dismantling schemes designed to exploit programs meant to keep businesses afloat and families fed during the pandemic. To date, the task force has brought charges against 57 defendants who collectively attempted to steal over $91 million from American taxpayers.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, led by Roger B. Handberg, isn’t just filing paperwork. They’re securing convictions and, crucially, recovering stolen funds. So far, 43 defendants have been found guilty, with another 14 cases still in the pipeline. The office’s Civil Division recently scored a $325,000 settlement with Florida companies Kingwood Orlando Reunion Resort LLC and Kingwood Crystal River Resort Corp. (“Crystal River”) after they were accused of falsifying information on a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application.

The cases aren’t limited to corporate greed. Individuals are facing serious time. In February 2023, Keith Ingersoll (46, Orlando) received a nine-year and one-month federal prison sentence for a complex web of fraud, including a real estate scam and a fraudulent application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). Meanwhile, Daniel Joseph Tisone (35, Naples) was slapped with seven years and three months in prison, along with a hefty forfeiture order. He’s being forced to hand over properties, an engagement ring, ammunition, and cash seized from his bank accounts, and will be responsible for paying over $2.6 million in restitution.

Tisone, a convicted felon, didn’t just apply for loans – he lied about *everything*. His applications for EIDL, Main Street Lending Program (MSLP), and PPP loans were riddled with false claims about his criminal history, payroll, employee count, and revenue. The task force isn’t just going after the big fish, either. They’re targeting schemes involving Unemployment Insurance (UI) and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of pandemic profiteers.

The Asset Recovery Division is making sure criminals don’t benefit from their crimes. They’ve already seized and forfeited over $16.8 million in fraudulently obtained EIDL, UI, and PPP funds. Another $9.8 million is currently under seizure, awaiting either civil or criminal forfeiture proceedings. U.S. Attorney Handberg made it clear: “These cases should serve as a warning to those who might have engaged in similar fraudulent activity that holding those accountable for these crimes remains a high priority for federal authorities.”

This effort is part of a larger, national crackdown spearheaded by the U.S. Attorney General’s COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force, designed to coordinate resources across the Department of Justice and other federal agencies. The Middle District of Florida is proving to be a key battleground in the fight against pandemic fraud, sending a clear message that stealing from relief programs will not go unpunished. The task force is actively investigating new leads and promises continued aggressive prosecution of those who exploited the crisis for personal gain.

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