Pinellas Man Accused Of Creating Fake Trump Pardon To Escape PPP Fraud

TAMPA, FL — A 22-year-old North Redington Shores man was indicted in United States District Court in Tampa after being accused of creating fake charities and applying for federal Payroll Protection Plan loans on behalf of the charities, then trying to avoid prosecution by creating a fake pardon from then-President Donald Trump.

According to the Department of Justice indictment, Alexander Dean Leszczynski of 173rd Avenue East is also accused of filing fraudulent warranty deeds that deeded to himself and his businesses 10 properties around the United States collectively valued at more than $300 million, including properties belonging to Jeffrey Epstein.

When the true property owners and their attorneys attempted to correct the fraudulent deeds, Leszczynski responded by sending harassing and threatening letters, emails and faxes, authorities said.

On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Leszczynski with wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.

If convicted on all counts, Leszczynski faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.

The indictment also notifies Leszczynski that the United States intends to forfeit $337,000, representing the proceeds from his crimes.

Leszczynski made his first appearance in court Tuesday and was ordered to be held in jail pending his trial.

According to court documents, Leszczynski used fictitious charitable entities, such as Love & Bliss Inc., to engage in numerous frauds.

The schemes included fraudulently applying for and receiving two Payroll Protection Plan loans totaling approximately $195,910, engaging in a check kiting scheme and attempting to deposit $2.7 million of worthless checks into the Love & Bliss Inc. business account, authorities said.

The indictment accuses Leszczynski of laundering the proceeds of the PPP and check kiting schemes through multiple accounts in an effort to conceal the proceeds from the government.

U.S. investigators said they seized $337,000 from an account Leszczynski controlled and that, when he discovered that the money had been frozen, he attempted to have it released by producing a fabricated pardon purportedly signed by Trump.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, enacted in March 2020, was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable PPP loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses.

The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities.

The PPP allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time-period and uses a percentage of the loan for payroll expenses.

The case was investigated by the FBI, the Largo Police Department, the Indian Shores Police Department and the Palm Beach Police Department.

The Department of Justice said it will track down, investigate and prosecute anyone who fraudulently applied for and received PPP loans and other CARES Act funds, preventing legitimate businesses and charities in desperate need of coronavirus relief from receiving funds.

According to the Justice Department, an estimated $90 billion in CARES Act disbursements and PPP loans were obtained through fraud.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of legitimate businesses in need were denied CARES Act funding.

Leszczynski was being held by the U.S. Marshals Service in the Pinellas County Jail without bail.