A Maryland pastor has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining over $3.5m (£2,668m) in COVID-19 relief funds and using a portion of the money to purchase a Tesla.
Rudolph E. Brooks, aged 48, the founder and senior pastor of Kingdom Tabernacle of Restoration Ministries in Washington, DC, received the sentence, which also includes two years of supervised release and the forfeiture of significant assets, including properties in Maryland.
According to The Christian Post, Brooks' scheme, which lasted from April 2020 to September 2021, involved submitting falsified documents to obtain loans for multiple businesses he controlled, including a car dealership and his ministry.
In a statement, US Attorney Erek L. Barron said Brooks inflated employee numbers and payroll expenses on the loan applications, securing millions in funds that he later misused for personal expenses.
Among his purchases were a 2018 Tesla Model 3, a property in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and various luxury items, including groceries, retail goods, and restaurant meals.
The fraudulent activities violated the CARES Act which was enacted in March 2020 to provide financial assistance to those affected by the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brooks also pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
Judge Deborah L. Boardman ordered him to forfeit over $2 million (£1.5m) for the Tesla and the real estate bought with the illicit funds.
Brooks was prosecuted by the District of Maryland Strike Force, which is part of a national initiative to combat pandemic-related fraud.