Wednesday, March 1st, 2023, Valesky Barosy (28) of Haitian origin, resident of South Florida, was sentenced by the Federal Court of Fort Lauderdale to 6 years and two months in prison for having defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program of the Federal Government, intended for small businesses affected by Covid-19.

Besides the prison sentence, Valesky Barosy was also ordered to repay over $2.1 million for the money he actually received.

Let's recall that Barosy was found guilty by a jury in December 2022 for 5 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of money laundering and 1 count of aggravated identity theft.

According to the indictment, Barosy submitted false loan applications in his name or that of accomplices. In total, he managed to collect $2.1 million in loans.

For various loan applications Barosy fabricated business expenses, falsified applicant's profits and payroll for the previous year, and submitted fraudulent tax forms to the IRS, to secure payments for himself and others, according to an indictment and evidence at trial.

Barosy's fraudulent loan applications, as well as falsified tax documents, were found on his computer along with messages soliciting information from other potential clients.

For each loan request obtained, Barosy's accomplices and beneficiaries paid him a generous commission which he used to buy a Lamborghini Huracán EVO, Rolex and Hublot luxury watches and Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel brand clothes... (which will be seized by justice). A wealth that he exhibited on social networks where he boasted of his success in business.

TB/ HaitiLibre