Today, Daniela Rendon, 31, of Miami made her appearance in federal magistrate court and was charged with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans and grants under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Relief Program. Allegedly, she submitted fraudulent applications seeking relief funds from the Small Business Administration and PPP, falsified her revenue and payroll, and submitted fraudulent IRS tax forms. Rendon is said to have received approximately $381,000 in fraudulent funds from the government. It is further alleged that Rendon used the relief funds to lease a 2021 Bentley Bentayga, rent a luxury Biscayne Bay apartment, pay for cosmetic dermatology procedures, and refinish her designer shoes. The indictment charges Rendon with seven counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison. The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe and acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. HSI Miami investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn is prosecuting it. The case is still ongoing and a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Daniela Rendon stands accused of using fraudulent COVID-19 relief funds to finance her own lavish lifestyle. The indictment alleges that she lied on her applications for relief funds, falsified her revenue and payroll, and submitted false IRS documents in order to receive approximately $381,000. She is then accused of using the money to lease a Bentley, rent an apartment, get cosmetic procedures, and refinish her designer shoes. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison as well as other sentencing factors to be determined by the court. The case is currently under investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida and HSI Miami, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn.
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