Central Florida man sentenced to prison for COVID-19 relief fraud, creating fictitious payroll that included his children

MIAMI - On April 25, a central Florida man was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans and grants under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Relief Program (EIDL); after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud.

Jean Robert Dorcius, 68, of Kissimmee, submitted false and fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief loans that included false revenue and payroll records and fraudulent IRS tax forms. Dorcius received approximately $440,515 in COVID-19 relief funds from the fraudulent scheme. Dorcius transferred $200,000 of the fraudulently obtained funds to his personal accounts. Dorcius also created fictitious payroll records that included himself, his children, and sister.

U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola also ordered Dorcius to forfeit $109,900 to the United States and pay $440,515 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence.

HSI Miami Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn prosecuted it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika M. Miranda handled asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case no. 22-cr-20553.

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