By Jay Weaver
Alexandra Acosta, a 38-year-old deputy with the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), was sentenced on Tuesday to four months in prison after a Miami federal jury convicted her of defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in 2021. Acosta, who had served for over a decade as a BSO deputy, was found guilty of falsifying information to obtain a $20,180 loan meant for businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acosta’s crime involved using a real estate company to apply for the loan, submitting falsified tax documents and financial records to the Small Business Administration (SBA), which administers the program. The funds were intended to help businesses retain employees during the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. However, Acosta used the loan for personal expenses, rather than for payroll or business overhead.
Federal prosecutors, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor Jones, expressed that while Acosta had a “good career” and had served the community as a deputy, her actions represented a serious breach of public trust. Jones called for a harsher sentence of 10 months in prison, citing Acosta’s repeated lies under oath during the trial.
Acosta’s defense attorney, Brian Silber, argued for a lighter sentence, highlighting her academic achievements and past bravery as a law enforcement officer. However, U.S. District Judge Robert Scola imposed a sentence of four months in prison and a $4,000 fine. Acosta was also ordered to repay the $20,180 loan and make restitution for the fraudulent amount.
Acosta was among 17 BSO deputies arrested last fall in connection with PPP loan fraud. Many of her colleagues, including Stephanie D. Smith, a former school resource officer, have also been convicted and sentenced for similar fraud charges. Acosta was the final BSO employee to face trial, with the others either pleading guilty or cutting plea deals.
In addition to Acosta, former BSO Lieutenant Ernest Bernard Gonder Jr. was also involved in significant PPP fraud, stealing over $167,000 through falsified loan applications. Gonder received a sentence of one year under house arrest and five years of probation.
Despite the relatively modest amount of stolen funds, the high number of law enforcement officers involved in the scheme has shocked authorities. The case highlights the widespread abuse of the government relief programs designed to help businesses during the pandemic, particularly by individuals in positions of public trust.
