Miami, Florida, Pastor Sentenced to 48 Months for PPP Fraud

Elie Floradin, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Miami, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). He pled guilty to the charges, which involved a scheme to obtain more than $1 million in relief funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

According to a release from the Southern District of Florida of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Floradin participated in a fraudulent scheme. Through an intermediary, he repeatedly filed false PPP applications, seeking relief for companies that did not exist. One such scheme involved a fake employment agency, through which he claimed to pay approximately $960,000 in yearly wages to dozens of employees, despite the nonexistence of the business.

At sentencing, Floradin admitted to applying for more than $1 million in fraudulently obtained funds and receiving more than half that amount. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay $535,996 in restitution to the United States.

The PPP was established under the CARES Act in March 2020 to provide emergency relief for businesses affected by the pandemic. The program allowed qualifying entities to receive loans for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. Loan forgiveness was available if funds were spent appropriately.

Floradin has served as pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church since November 2000, according to the Southern Baptist Convention’s database. His sentencing underscores the importance of accountability and honest dealing, as highlighted in Proverbs 11:1.

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