Florida & Boston Residents Charged in $10.7M Mortgage & PPP Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors have brought charges against a group of individuals spanning Florida and Massachusetts, alleging involvement in two separate fraud schemes. The cases center around falsified financial records and applications related to both mortgage loans and COVID-era paycheck protection programs.

Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Deceptive Practices

Sniders Jean-Jacques, 38, of Miami, Florida, and Tanya Pierre, 28, also of Miami, are central figures in a scheme to fraudulently obtain mortgage loans and apartment rentals. Jean-Jacques, operating a tax preparation and credit repair business with locations in Miami and Boston, allegedly assisted applicants with poor credit histories through deceptive means.

Prosecutors allege that over $6.7 million in mortgage loans were applied for, resulting in over $3.7 million being obtained, alongside numerous fraudulent apartment rentals. Methods included forging bank statements and paystubs, adding unqualified applicants to the credit accounts of others, and using the identities of individuals – including Pierre – to secure rentals.

Additional Defendants

German Olivio, 41, of Westin, Florida, is accused of altering bank statements. Jim Kelly Michel, 50, of Delray Beach, Florida, allegedly provided “tradelines” – access to credit accounts – and Social Security numbers of victims. Rosalie Clement-Jackson, 55, of Sunrise, Florida, is accused of directing unqualified applicants to Jean-Jacques’ services as a mortgage broker.

All six defendants – Jean-Jacques, Pierre, Olivio, Michel, Clement-Jackson, and an unnamed Bostonian – face charges of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud and are expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Did You Know? The alleged schemes involved attempts to apply for more than $6.7 million in mortgage loans.

Pandemic Relief Fraud

Paycheck Protection Program Abuse

Jean-Jacques and Pierre are also accused of orchestrating a $7 million fraud scheme involving the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Prosecutors state that the pair allegedly submitted fraudulent applications on behalf of borrowers and retained 30% of any awarded funds as a fee.

Lorne Johnson, 38, of Boston, and Ashley Spike, 31, of Miramar, Florida, allegedly assisted in recruiting ineligible borrowers and creating false documentation to qualify them for PPP loans.

Jean-Jacques and Pierre initially appeared in federal court in Miami, while Spike appeared in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Johnson in Boston. All four are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Expert Insight: The alleged dual schemes demonstrate a pattern of exploiting financial systems for personal gain, targeting both established lending practices and emergency relief programs designed to support individuals and businesses.

Potential Penalties

The wire fraud charges carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. The conspiracy charge related to wire and bank fraud carries a more severe potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What charges are the defendants facing?

All defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, while Jean-Jacques, Pierre, Johnson, and Spike are also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Where are the defendants expected to appear in court?

All defendants are expected to appear in federal court in Boston at a later date, following initial appearances in Florida and Massachusetts.

How much money was allegedly involved in the PPP fraud scheme?

The alleged Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme involved approximately $7 million.

As these cases proceed, it remains to be seen what evidence will be presented and what outcomes the defendants will face.