The former Miami police officer has been facing up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to avoiding more than $200,000 from the pandemic-era relief loan program.
Tramaine Liptrot, 43, pleaded guilty to fraud on Wednesday before US District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami Federal Court. Federal prosecutors say Liptrot has applied for federal loans for two payroll protection programs on behalf of Liptrots Tax Services LLC, the company he owns.
Liptrot admitted to fraudulently obtaining PPP loans in June 2020, falsely claiming that his company spent nearly $37,000 a month to pay the salaries of four employees. He also submitted fake tax documents that Liptrots Tax employees stated that in 2019 more than $440,000 had been paid.
Then, in March 2021, Liptrot sought another PPP loan. In that application, he said the average monthly salary is above $43,000. The tax form he provided said he paid more than $496,000 in 2020.
South Florida has been one of the biggest sources of PPP loan fraud since Congress adopted the Pandemic Relief Program run by SMEs. Businessmen, law enforcement officers and others have been convicted of stealing millions from government programs by manufacturing loan applications for businesses, including 17 Broward County Sheriff’s Office employees.
Several people used fraudulent loans to buy Lamborghini, Teslas, Porsche and other expensive cars, flaunting their luxurious lifestyles on social media.
The FBI Miami Regional Corruption Task Force, along with the Miami Police Department and the SBA inspector’s office, investigated the Liptrot. The former police officer was sentenced on August 6th and will face up to 20 years in federal prison.
