WA scammers steal millions from COVID relief fund meant for renters and take lavish Miami trip
Washington scammers stole millions from a COVID-19 relief fund that was meant for renters and landlords facing eviction and used it for a lavish Miami vacation.
According to U.S. Attorney Nick Brown, the scammers bought Land Rovers, and Lexus Sedans, rented a Lamborghini, and even got plastic surgery.
“Holding people accountable for exploiting others during the COVID-19 crisis has been a top priority for our office,” said Rick Collodi, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Seattle.
While Washingtonians were social distancing, losing jobs, and trying to stay afloat financially - some even dying - the group continued to steal. The scammers managed to get more than $3 million.
Federal investigators say Paradise Williams and five others made 125 applications for COVID rental relief as fake landlords and creating fake tenants.
“We all know Seattle and King County have been struggling to address homelessness, struggling to address housing affordability struggling to keep people in their homes and that was at a very crisis point during the COVID Pandemic. The idea that people were stealing money intended to keep people in their homes is very troubling,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.
Brown also said the defendants lived in Washington but were arrested all over the country including Arizona and Florida. Now they’re facing decades in prison.
