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Glam Miami Influencer Buys Bentley, Plastic Surgery With COVID $$
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A social media influencer from Miami was charged last week with fraudulently obtaining hundreds of thousands in COVID relief funds and spending the money on a luxury automobile, a luxury apartment, and even plastic surgery.

Daniela Rendon, 31, made her first appearance in court and was given a $150,000 bond, the Miami Herald reported.

Prosecutors say Rendon “falsified her revenue and payroll and submitted fraudulent IRS tax forms” to cajole $381,000 from the Small Business Administration and the Paycheck Protection Program. Then she had a payroll company issue fake payroll checks to herself, family and friends, the US Department of Justice said.

The government said Rendon leased a 2021 Bentley Bentayga, rented a Biscayne Bay apartment, paid for cosmetic surgery, and had her designer shoes repaired, all using the COVID funds.

Rendon has been charged with seven counts of wire fraud, two counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Rendon’s arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.

According to the Herald, Rendon is not even among the worse COVID funds offenders in south Florida:

  • David Hines got $3.4 million from the PPP and promptly bought a Lanborghini Hurcan Evo in 2020. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than six years in prison.
  • Andre Lorquet was charged in November with pretending to be a certified tax preparer and fraudulently obtaining $4.4 million from the program. He bought a Tesla Plain, a Tesla Model S, a Lamborghini Urus, and a Porsche Panamera GTS.
  • Velesky Barosy bought a private jet and a Lamborghini Huracan Evo with his $2 million. He was found guilty in December and faces 20 years in prison when he’s sentenced later this month. He also bought Rolex and Hublot watches and designer clothes.
  • Daniel Hernandez, a former TD bank official, worked from the inside to fleece more than $17 million in fraudulent loans. He pleaded guilty in December and faces up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing in March.

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[Featured image: Daniela Rendon/Instagram]