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A Miami real estate broker has been accused of federal fraud for allegedly using COVID-19 relief funds to fund a lavish lifestyle consisting of private jets, luxury yachts, fast cars and fancy clothes.
Daniela Rendon, 31, did not shy away from the amount of wealth she had accumulated, regularly flaunting herself on her social media accounts and her 33,000 followers.
According to the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Rendon received $381,000 through the Small Business Administration and Paycheck Protection Program.
But instead of using the funds to prop up her business during the pandemic she is alleged to have splashed the cash on herself together with close friends and family.
Among other things, the money was used to lease a 2021 Bentley Bentayga, which is sold for around $181,000, which she showed off on her Instagram account.
Daniela Rendon, 31, is alleged to have used COVID relief funds to lease a 2021 Bentley Bentayga (sales price $181,000) which she showed off on her Instagram account, pictured
Among other things, the money was used to lease a 2021 Bentley Bentayga, sales price $181,000, which she showed off on her Instagram account
Photos posted to her social media account see her enjoying a lavish lifestyle
Rendon posted pics of herself to social media account wearing fancy clothes, going on tropical vacations and traveling on private jets
The money was also used to rent a luxury apartment in Biscayne Bay, undergo cosmetic procedures and to fix a pair of her designer shoes.
Rendon, a mother-of-three, has been charged with seven counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
A judge set her bond at $150,000 after prosecutors deemed her to be a flight risk and likely to head back to her native Colombia in order to evade justice.
Rendon was allegedly able to get her hands on the money earmarked for struggling businesses by falsifying business data to secure the PPP funds.
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She is alleged to have fabricated information including revenue, payroll, costs, tax information, and employee count.
Rendon refers to herself as an ‘Ultra Luxury’ real estate agent
Instead of using it to support her business, Rendon allegedly used the funds to lease a 2021 Bentley, luxury apartment, cosmetic surgery and buy shoes
Rendon was far from discreet when it came to flaunting her lavish lifestyle
Rendon is alleged to have had $381,000 in relief funds funneled to her personal account despite them being strictly for her ‘Luxury Real Estate’ business
The falsified data was submitted to lenders in New Jersey and Idaho with the loans paid directly to her through her corporate bank account.
Rendon, who refers to herself as an ‘Ultra Luxury’ real estate agent on LinkedIn, then allegedly transferred the payments to herself and her inner circle of friends according to the Miami Herald.
She allegedly arranged for a payroll processor in New Jersey to process the loans and cut checks that were then issued to family and friends.
The indictment, filed by federal prosecutor Jonathan Bailyn, notes how Rendon applied for her business loans through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program for $371,000 and the Economic Injury Disaster Relief program for $10,000.
Rendon allegedly arranged for a payroll processor in New Jersey to process the loans and cut checks that were then issued to family and friends.
Rendon, a mom of three, was charged with seven counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft. She faces up to 20 years in prison
A judge set Rendon’s bond at $150,000 after prosecutors deemed her to be a flight risk and likely to head back to her native Colombia
Rendon allegedly was able to get her hands on the money by falsifying business data in order to obtain the PPP funds, including revenue, payroll, costs, tax information and employee count
