Four Doral cops suspended with pay as feds probe COVID relief small business loans
.jpg)
READ MORE
COVID-19 loan fraud in South Florida
South Florida, long known as the nation’s capital of fraud schemes, has incurred more than 140 PPP criminal cases over the past three years, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Here are a few.
Expand All
Four Doral police officers have been relieved of duty as federal investigators probe a series of small business relief loans they are suspected of receiving during the pandemic, sources tell the Miami Herald.
Doral police spokesman Rey Valdes confirmed that officers Pablo Rodriguez, Jorge Gallardo, Mauro Oliveira and Osvaldo F. Castillo have been suspended with pay since the middle of May. Valdes declined to comment, saying another jurisdiction was leading the investigation. Doral Mayor J.C. Bermudez also refused to discuss the investigation, saying it was led by “another entity.”
FBI Special Agent and Spokesman Mike Leverock said he’s not “in a position to confirm or deny the existence of any such investigations.” The investigation was first reported by WPLG-ABC10’s Glenna Milberg. Sources with knowledge of the probe told the Herald that the officers are being investigated for fraud associated with the Paycheck Protection Program.
Those loans issued by local private lenders and credit unions are backed by the federal Small Business Administration as part of the government’s attempt to keep small businesses afloat during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Doral officers could not immediately be reached for comment. It was unclear if they had retained representation. The South Florida Police Benevolent Association said it was not representing the officers in the matter.
Miami Herald Staff Writer Samantha Gross contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 9, 2021 at 9:27 AM.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
