Florida authorities Rep. Joe Harding, who is from Ocala, was archetypal elected to the Florida House successful 2020. | Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A national expansive assemblage indicted Republican Florida authorities Rep. Joe Harding connected aggregate counts aft authorities said helium illegally obtained $150,000 successful pandemic-related tiny concern loans by allegedly utilizing the names of dormant companies.
The indictment, unsealed Wednesday night, alleges that betwixt Dec. 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021 Harding utilized the dormant companies connected applications for loans connected the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications, including utilizing mendacious slope statements arsenic supporting documentation.
He faces 2 counts of ligament fraud, 2 counts of engaging successful monetary transactions due to the fact that helium transferred the indebtedness wealth to 2 abstracted slope accounts and 2 counts of making mendacious statements to the SBA.
Harding, 35, was formally indicted connected Tuesday. He had a preliminary proceeding connected Tuesday, and was released connected bond. The authorities did not petition helium stay successful custody.
Harding, who is from Ocala, was archetypal elected to the Florida House successful 2020. He is champion known arsenic being the House sponsor for authorities that banned treatment of sex individuality oregon intersexual predisposition successful classrooms up until 3rd grade. The bill, which opponents branded the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, sparked protests and got nationalist attention.
Harding did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.