Accused St. Petersburg drug dealers received SBA loans to assist organization

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) – Detectives with the St. Petersburg Police Section are in the midst of a big drug trafficking investigation and have produced 30-arrests so significantly.

Most of the arrests are drug-connected, but in accordance to police, a handful of the sellers had been working with your tax dollars to fund their operation.

Law enforcement arrested 21-calendar year old Dante Payne on Monday. He’s dealing with numerous drug fees and a single count of defrauding a financial institution.

In accordance to the arrest report, he filed paperwork with the govt proclaiming he owned “Brother’s Landscaping Co.” He said the company grossed $128,800 in 2020 and he obtained $20,832 to cover payroll and enterprise overhead fees.

“One of the explanations they have been equipped to fund their procedure was for the reason that they were employing these loans from the government that they had gained fraudulently,” stated Yolanda Fernandez with the St. Petersburg Law enforcement Section. “And they had been finding substantial amounts of funds. Supposedly to aid these employees that they did not have for these corporations that they did not run. “

Russell Jones is also accused of getting SBA loans. Police arrested him on Nov. 8. According to the arrest report he claimed he owned a barber shop that grossed $45,681 in 2020. The paperwork indicates he gained $9,516 from the federal government to include payroll and organization overhead expenditures.

Police arrested Kenneth Davis on Nov. 9. The arrest report does not indicate the sort of business he claimed to have, but it did say in 2020 the unnamed enterprise grossed $105,900 in 2020 and he obtained $20,832 from the government.

Marlon Santiago calls it disgusting. He owns an operates a authorized hemp nursery in Pasco County. He has experienced just one heck of a time finding SBA loans.

“They’ve just been jerking me around,” reported Santiago. “I actually got an e-mail from them yesterday acknowledging that the trouble is on their conclusion.”

Santiago was dumbfounded when he discovered accused criminals were being getting federal government assistance.

“People like myself are continue to having difficulties to get the revenue that we ought to be receiving,” stated Santiago. “And you have got men who are performing the improper way obtaining income hand about fist.”