South Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Covid-19 Relief Fraud, After Buying Jewelry and Luxury Cars with Loan Money

MIAMI — On March 7, Andre Lorquet, 39, of Miami, Florida was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining COVID-19 relief loans and grants under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Relief Program (EIDL), and the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG).

According to a court records, Lorquet submitted fraudulent applications, seeking more than $4.7 million in COVID-relief funds. In the COVID-relief applications, Lorquet falsified his revenue and payroll and submitted fraudulent IRS tax forms.

Lorquet received approximately $4.4 million in COVID-relief funds from the fraudulent scheme. Lorquet used the fraudulently obtained proceeds to purchase, among other things, two Tesla S models, a Lamborghini Urus, a Porsche Panamera GTS, a diamond Audemars Piguet watch, a rose gold and diamond pendant with his company’s logo, a half-kilogram gold chain with 70 carats of diamonds, and a 1-kilogram gold chain.

Lorquet pled guilty to money laundering.  He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael K. Moore.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, made the announcement.

HSI investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn prosecuted it, and Assistant United States Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken handled asset forfeiture. 

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. under case no. 22-cr-20326.  

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