Miami-Dade resident Emmanuel Bully, Jr. is in hot water with the feds, accused of swindling over $500,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. The scheme involved bogus applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), programs designed to keep businesses afloat during the pandemic. Instead, prosecutors say Bully allegedly lined his own pockets.
The indictment alleges Bully submitted six separate loan applications between April 2020 and September 2021, claiming to represent himself and four companies. These weren’t legitimate business needs, the feds claim – Bully allegedly fabricated payroll and revenue figures to inflate the amount of money he could steal. The Small Business Administration (SBA) backed these loans, meaning taxpayers are on the hook for Bully’s alleged greed.
Federal prosecutors say Bully wasn’t using the money to keep employees on the payroll or cover legitimate business expenses. Instead, the funds were allegedly diverted for personal use, a blatant betrayal of the program’s intent. The CARES Act, which authorized these loans, aimed to provide a lifeline to struggling businesses and workers, not to enrich individuals through deception.
The FBI took Bully into custody, and the investigation is ongoing. Details of his attempted flight, if any, haven’t been released, but the West Palm Beach Field Office played a key role in building the case. Bully made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, where he was informed of the charges and his rights. He’s presumed innocent until proven guilty, but the evidence, if the feds are correct, paints a damning picture.
This case is part of a larger COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established to combat the widespread abuse of pandemic relief programs. The feds are cracking down on individuals and companies who exploited the crisis for personal gain, and they’re sending a clear message: fraud will not be tolerated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is leading the prosecution.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Recently, a former Miami-Dade Corrections Sergeant and a former Amtrak employee both pleaded guilty to COVID-19 relief fraud. A former lawyer in West Palm Beach also admitted to wire fraud. These cases highlight the scope of the problem and the relentless efforts of federal investigators to hold perpetrators accountable.
Anyone with information about COVID-19 relief fraud is urged to report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF). The NCDF is a resource for reporting fraud, waste, and abuse related to disaster relief programs. You can find more information and contact details on the Department of Justice website.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is committed to pursuing justice in these cases. They’ve dedicated resources to investigating and prosecuting individuals who fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief funds, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. This is a grim reminder that even in times of crisis, some will seek to exploit the system for their own benefit.
RELATED: Miami Grifter Gets Probation for Perjury
RELATED: Miami Exec Accused of Milking Medicare for Millions
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly.
Subscribe free →
Browse More