FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A woman who helped three Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies to commit federal fraud was awaiting sentencing after recently pleading guilty to conspiracy to make false statements charges in Fort Lauderdale.
Lakeisha Black, also known as Lakeisha Pierce, admitted to charging between $2,000 and $6,000 to prepare fraudulent applications resulting in over $400,000 in Small Business Administration loans.
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Last year, Sheriff Gregory Tony announced the arrest of 15 BSO employees accused of defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program, which was meant to help small businesses during the pandemic.
“BSO Public Corruption Unit detectives determined more than 100 employees had submitted applications for the PPP loans. Only the employees who did not obtain the loans legally were subject to criminal investigation,” Tony said last year.
According to prosecutors, the deputies in Black’s case no longer work for BSO, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy in separate cases, and have been sentenced.
Black’s sentencing before U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith is Jan. 7.