FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A 24-year-old man pled guilty to stealing the identities of 14 individuals to collect over $1 million in COVID-19 relief and unemployment benefits.
Conrad Brandon Bernard, of Fort Lauderdale, faces up to 30 years plus two mandatory consecutive terms for carrying out a scheme to defraud the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and unemployment benefits.
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According to the United States Attorney’s Office, from around May 2020 through December 2022, Bernard applied for EIDL loans using the names and social security numbers of 14 people.
During that time, the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) approved Bernard’s COVID-19 relief loans, and the SBA transferred the money into multiple bank accounts.
Once Bernard had the funds in all the different bank accounts, the State Attorney’s Office said, he retransferred them to other accounts of his own.
Bernard also obtained unemployment benefits under the 14 individuals, which were paid into different bank accounts from several states, including West Virginia and Arizona.
In total, Bernard collected $1,083,340 from EIDL and unemployment benefits, the state attorney’s office said.
Law enforcement also discovered that Bernard has numerous false identifications, including counterfeit passport cards, fake Florida driver’s licenses, identification cards, individuals' names, dates of birth, and social security.
Bernard is scheduled for sentencing in Fort Lauderdale on Feb. 5, 2025.