Charges in a federal indictment unsealed Thursday against a Lehigh Acres couple include fraud involving COVID PPP relief funds and could bring significant prison sentences.
The indictment was filed on Aug. 25 against Amber Rewis Bruey, 34, and Anthony James Bruey, 35. The indictment charges the married couple with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and illegal monetary transactions.
As part of the indictment, the government advised the couple that it would seek forfeiture that would be sought on their 2019 GMC Yukon XL, 2021 Chevrolet Spark LS, 2020 Honda Talon, 2020 Polaris RZR, real property in North Carolina, and $881,058.35. Investigators claim the assets are traceable to the proceeds of the offense.
The charges could lead to 30 years in federal prison for Amber Rewis Bruey on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; 30 years in prison on each of 10 counts of wire fraud; 10 years on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and 10 years on each of four counts of illegal monetary transactions.
Anthony Bruey could receive 30 years in federal prison on two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; 30 years in prison on each of two counts of wire fraud; 10 years on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and 10 years on each of two counts of illegal monetary transactions.
The indictment said that starting around April 2020, and while the Brueys was on probation for state criminal charges, they conspired to submit false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Program applications to the Small Business Administration and PPP loan servicers and lenders.
The loan applications contained numerous false representations, including criminal history, dates of operation, number of employees, and gross revenues. In support of their fraudulent EIDL and PPP loan applications, the Brueys submitted false and fictitious federal income tax documents.
On the Sunbiz.org Florida state business information website Ambery Bruey is listed as an agent and Anthony Bruey as an officer for Bruey & Sons, LLC, a handyman, and repair operation.
The corporation was formed in February 2020 and was described online as running for two years with two active principals and lists an address on Celtic Street East in a sparsely populated Lehigh Acres residential neighborhood.
The home, which is listed as owned by the Brueys on the Lee County Property Appraiser website, looked abandoned Thursday with tall weeds front and back and a lockbox on the front door.
A resident whose home on Christholm Street East backs up to the Celtic address said he has not seen anyone at the home for months. Neighbors on Celtic could not be reached.
Anthony Bruey is also listed in the indictment as operating a business called Anthony Bruey and Amber Bruey as running businesses called Amber Bruey, Amber Rewis, and Beach Bumz Designs.
The indictment said the Brueys’ materially false, fraudulent, and misleading representations caused the SBA and PPP lenders to approve and fund six EIDL and six PPP loans, totaling $881,058.35.
The report said the couple then unlawfully used the funds to purchase a $211,457 residence in North Carolina, a 2019 GMC Yukon SUV, a 2020 Honda Talon, and to make a $23,566 restitution payment as a condition of probation in a criminal court case for Amber Bruey.
The indictment said both Brueys was on probation from St. Lucie County, Florida.
Anthony Bruey had been adjudicated guilty in 2016 on charges of aggravated assault, battery by strangulation, and battery.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act is a federal law enacted in March 2020 and designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding.
The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1%.
The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as the continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds.