MIAMI, Fla, — A South Florida police officer was indicted Friday on suspicion of using COVID-19 relief funds to spruce a vintage car, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Jason Scott Carter, an officer with the Coral Springs Police Department who lives in Boca Raton, is accused of applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan on behalf of a business he allegedly owned and operated that fraudulently claimed pre-pandemic gross revenue of $100,000, WTVJ reported.
“In reality, the business had only minimal gross revenues during that period,” the DOJ stated in a news release announcing Carter’s indictment.
According to WFLA-TV, Carter alleged in his loan application that he would only use the funds to support his business, but investigators determined that he spent $21,000 of Small Business Administration loan money at a car repair and detailing company that specializes in luxury vehicles and high-end auto parts.
Carter, 44, was charged with one count of wire fraud and faces as many as 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted, according to the DOJ.
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