A Florida resident is accused of defrauding the US government by diverting aid related to COVID-19, including buying a Lamborghini.
David T. Hines is said to have received more than four million dollars to help pay his employees who lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
Instead, the man instead invested in a luxury car, but also in designer jewelry and clothing, reports the Miami Herald.
Police began investigating the suspect after he was involved in a Miami hit and run on July 11.
The 29-year-old appeared earlier this week and was released on bail. He must comply with several conditions pending his next appearance, scheduled for October.
According to court documents, the young man would have filed seven claims with the organization helping small businesses for an amount of $ 13.5 million.
This money was to be used to pay its 70 employees, whose salaries represented $ 4 million.
The Bank of America therefore lent him $ 3,984,557 to help him.
However, authorities discovered that David Hines’ business expenses did not exceed $ 200,000.
“These so-called employees either did not exist or earned a fraction of what Hines claimed in his claims,” one affidavit read.
The accused, however, did not spend the entire amount loaned since more than $ 3.4 million remained in his account at the end of June according to the bank.
This is not the first time that David Hines has dealt with Miami Police. In 2018, he filed a complaint against his girlfriend, who allegedly stole a Lamborghini from him.
The vehicle was found some time later. Hines and the young woman had been arrested, in particular for obstructing the work of a police officer.
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