Cassandra Yolanda Clarke, a 45-year-old resident of Miramar, Florida, has been charged with fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans and grants under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Clarke appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Fort Lauderdale.
The indictment alleges that Clarke submitted fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief funds on behalf of Narotique Med Spa LLC and Narotique Beauty Bar Inc. It is claimed she used falsified IRS tax forms to secure approximately $851,894 from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and PPP lenders. The funds were allegedly used to lease a Bentley Bentayga and make luxury purchases at Bal Harbour Shops.
Clarke faces three counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. If convicted, she could face up to 10 years in prison for money laundering and 20 years for wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine her sentence after considering relevant guidelines and factors.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI's Miami Field Office. The case was investigated by FBI Miami’s Palm Beach Resident Agency, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn prosecuting.
An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
In response to pandemic-related fraud, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021. This task force aims to combat fraud through coordination among various agencies and by sharing information from past enforcement efforts.
On September 15, 2022, the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office was chosen to lead one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. These teams focus on large-scale pandemic relief frauds committed by criminal organizations and individuals involved in multiple instances of such fraud.
Anyone with information about attempted COVID-19-related fraud can report it via the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or their web complaint form.
Court documents related to this case can be accessed on the Southern District of Florida's website or through PACER under case number 24-cr-60227.