Miami Courant

Daniel Fleureme, a former corrections officer from Miami-Dade County, has pled guilty to wire fraud in connection with defrauding a COVID-19 relief program. Fleureme, 56, admitted to submitting a fraudulent application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), claiming ownership of a non-existent business.

The EIDLs were part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act aimed at providing financial assistance to businesses affected by the pandemic. Fleureme's application falsely stated that his business had significant revenue and minimal costs, resulting in him receiving approximately $150,000 in loan proceeds.

Fleureme is set to be sentenced on January 7, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez in Miami. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the conviction.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe and FBI Special Agent Jeffrey B. Veltri among others involved in the investigation led by the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force and SBA OIG.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting the case as part of efforts initiated by the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force established on May 17, 2021.

For more information or to report suspected fraud related to COVID-19 relief programs, individuals can contact the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline or visit their website.

Further details regarding this case are available on the Southern District of Florida's court website under case number 24-cr-20407.