BROWARD COUNTY, FL – Four residents of Broward County have been arrested for their alleged roles in a coordinated scheme to defraud federal COVID-19 relief programs out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The arrests, made on June 5, stem from investigations into fraudulent applications submitted to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.
According to arrest records from the Coconut Creek Police Department, Wisler Isme, 40, of Fort Lauderdale, was taken into custody for allegedly obtaining more than $130,000 in pandemic relief funds by submitting false information, including inflated income figures and fictitious business details.
His arrest was part of a coordinated operation that led to the detention of three others with the same last name:
Sandra Isme, 41, of Lauderdale Lakes, was arrested by Wilton Manors Police. She is accused of fraudulently obtaining $17,167 through a PPP loan application submitted on June 25, 2020.
Vielande Julme Isme, 41, of Plantation, was apprehended by the Plantation Police Department. Authorities say she either received or attempted to receive over $150,000 through PPP and EIDL applications containing falsified claims.
Ebel Isme, 45, of Tamarac, was also arrested by Wilton Manors Police and is suspected of attempting to receive or securing over $343,000 through separate SBA loan applications that misrepresented business information.
All four individuals were booked into the Broward County Main Jail and are currently being held without bond. Authorities have not confirmed whether the suspects are related, but the synchronized arrests and nearly identical methods of alleged fraud point to a potentially organized operation.
The fraudulent applications date back to June 2020, when COVID-19 relief funding was rapidly distributed to support small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Investigators allege that the suspects manipulated their applications to appear eligible for funds, diverting money meant for struggling businesses.
The cases are currently being processed through the Broward County court system, and the investigation is ongoing.
