Feds seize millions in PPP funds from international ministry

[mfcorey1]

The U.S. Secret Service seized more than $7.5 million from accounts at Bank of America and another $868,000 from First American Trust from ASLAN International Ministry.

When agents went to the Orlando, Florida address listed for the group, no one answered and the door was locked, the complaint said.
$868,250 was used as a deposit on a $3.7 million home in Orlando.

A so-called international ministry based in Florida didn’t appear to do anything religious and was able to fraudulently obtain millions from the Paycheck Protection Program, federal authorities say.

The U.S. Secret Service seized more than $7.5 million from accounts at Bank of America and another $868,000 from First American Trust from ASLAN International Ministry, according to a civil forfeiture complaint filed in U.S District Court in Orlando, Fla.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/16/feds-seize-millions-in-ppp-funds-from-international-ministry-.html

[nykym]

1. So what happens to all the

seized money? Does it go back into the PPP program?

[Captain Zero]

2. Why do I think this is Tip of the Icberg

for PPP funds misdirection? How much went into Trump's pocket,,?

[malaise]

3. I'd take that thought to the bank right effin' now

Last edited Thu Dec 17, 2020, 02:21 PM - Edit history (1)

Just wait to find out who really owns the accounts.

Get the snacks - lots of peeps are heading for prison.

[Andy823]

21. Yep the money trail

needs to be followed, and all those who got funds illegally, trump included, need to repay the money, with interest, and serve time in jail of need be.

It may take time to find all the crooks, but it really needs to be done.

[Wounded Bear]

4. There are already reports of money going to Jarvanka...

[Traildogbob]

6. Joel Olsteen

Cult received over 4 million of tax cash. They pay no taxes. Tax except should mean you are except from receiving tax cash.

[TexasBushwhacker]

19. I wonder when they got it

The first batch of loans were only supposed to cover payroll for 8 weeks. 60% had to be used for payroll or it won't be forgiven ($2.64 M) and it only covers annual salaries up to $100K. I have a hard time believing Osteen's church spends that much on 2 months worth of payroll.

Of course, being an SBA loan, the payback terms are low interest and reasonable. But even so, it was supposed to be for small businesses that would otherwise lay people off.

[Traildogbob]

20. The report was here

A few days ago. I just think tax exempt people or people like Trump spawn and Jarod that get away with not paying taxes, should not draw a penny from tax payers. Olsteen can certainly pay his workers, at least with unlimited fish and bread. Repubs keep saying we do not need Med For All, local churches can help pay. Well, that local church can pay their employees without our money.

[TexasBushwhacker]

23. Of course he can afford to pay the employees

For that matter, he could loan the church money and the church can pay him back with interest. I imagine he has plenty of cash. His 17000 square foot house is owned by the church, so it's a "parsonage'. They don't have to pay property tax on it and he only has to pay self employment tax on the "fair rental value".

[NoRoadUntravelled]

8. Time will tell but I believe you are spot on with this.

tRump and family along with their corrupt cronies.

[SpankMe]

5. Tip of the iceberg?

No. This isn't even the light dusting of snow resting on the peak of the tip of the iceberg.

Religious and Trump-loving "non-profit" orgs have sucked up an amazing amount of PPP money. It's the Trump gov't enriching bigots through the back door at taxpayer's expense.

Biden should establish a major investigative panel to go through every PPP disbursement with a fine tooth comb and prosecute fraudsters and opportunists.

There are plenty of mom and pop's around here who were unable to get PPP money for a whole host of nonsense reasons that were really technicalities. But, mega-churches and Trump-supporting multi-millionaires got millions so they could continue to employ janitors to keep the pews in their crystal temples free of dust until the vaccine came out without having to dip into their stock portfolios.

I can't say it enough - fuck the Trumpers. Fuck the seditionists.

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. Although

I am sure the rethugs will condemn this action, in private I bet they are applauding yet another 'smart business move'. Any time someone can rook the government is a time to celebrate in their minds. After all, they have been doing it for over 43 years now. Of course, they are also snickering and mouthing 'loser' under their breaths because those amateurs got caught.

[PatSeg]

9. The Secret Service?

I would have thought it would be the FBI or Treasury.

Good to hear that at least there is some oversight on these funds. I'm sure there will be a lot more exposes to come.

[LiberalArkie]

11. Secret Service is the Treasury

[PatSeg]

14. Oh, okay

I just always thought of them as protecting important government officials, not seizing funds from banks.

[NoRoadUntravelled]

10. How much of a kickback did corrupt tRump and family get from PPP funds that went to

bogus entities?
They are looting the treasury with this while millions of Americans depend on foodbanks and a lousy $600 to sustain them for months at a time.
Taxpayer dollars hemorrhage from the coffers while tRump campaign shamelessly asks for more money for their fake election fraud claims.

[3Hotdogs]

12. Saying they know the word of God and they're telling it to you? And that's a fraud?

Where did they ever get that idea?

[KPN]

13. I hope the Biden admin does a thorough investigation

of where all the PPP money went. This is just the tip of the iceberg I suspect. Same with PPE contracts and contract awarding. Taxpayers were fleeced in blatantly corrupt fashion by the mobsters posing as an administration.

[FakeNoose]

15. The one-per-centers have raided the U.S. Treasury, thanks to Chump & Mnuchin

We're going to finally hear the bad news once the Repukes are gone. There's probably nothing left in the Treasury, they've taken it all.

I'm happy that the Secret Service has followed up on this. However the theft is so pervasive and the scope is so great that the thieving parties will probably never be caught.

[world wide wally]

16. If it's a grift, you can bet on Trump being involved

[woodsprite]

17. Their "founders" call themselves "church planters".

It's an old grift. I was at the barber with my husband one day. The lady that owns the place is a friend and very talkative to all her customers. We sat there while she was finishing up one customer. He was talking up a storm about how his job was to travel all around and "plant" churches. He'd get them set up, then go "plant" another one. He said funding was never an option. I looked at him like the trombone salesman in the musical -- without the good part at the end.

Sounds like these people set their sights on a bigger grift style.

Not to mention, whomever holds the rights to Narnia's book cover art could probably get a lawsuit against them for using their artwork on their website and FB pages.

[Baked Potato]

18. I was searching the database the other night...

Churches and car dealerships got big money.

[Blue Owl]

22. Who... WHO is signing off on these loans???

I want names...