Brandon Man Charged With COVID-19 Fraud
Tampa, FL – In a shocking turn of events, Rosson Hamilton (40, Brandon) has been arrested and charged with two counts of wire fraud, a federal crime that carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison on each count.
According to court records, between February 2021 and January 2022, Hamilton devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting a false and fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application. PPP loans were one of the sources of economic relief provided for by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Hamilton made false representations in his PPP application to secure the loan. The loan proceeds were later electronically transferred into his bank account.
Hamilton’s actions are a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of COVID-19 fraud, which has plagued the nation since the pandemic began. In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud.
The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts.
This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
Hamilton’s indictment is a formal charge that he has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. While an indictment is not evidence of guilt, it marks an important step in the process of bringing those responsible for COVID-19 fraud to justice.
The case serves as a warning to those who would seek to take advantage of the pandemic for personal gain. The public can report suspected cases of COVID-19 fraud to the National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 1-866-720-5721 or file a complaint online at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/report-fraud.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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