LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — The Lehigh Acres couple who stole $880,000 in COVID relief funds was sentenced in federal court Wednesday afternoon.
Anthony Bruey was sentenced to a little more than four years after pleading guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud and illegal monetary transactions — six counts in total. They pleaded guilty to the charges back in March 2022.
Amber Bruey was sentenced to four years for the same charges, though she had 12 counts against her.
We tried to talk to the couple outside the courthouse minutes after they were sentenced.
"To the whole community and everybody, we're sorry," Anthony said with his wife next to him. "We're paying our consequences. Leave us alone, please."
Federal indictment documents show they filed 26 COVID-19 relief loan applications to help their fake company pay for things like a mortgage, utilities and a lease. The application provided false dates, gross revenue, cost of goods sold, monthly payroll and income tax documents, a court filing shows. The couple also opened up bank accounts to accept the money.
The Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, is intended for businesses that struggled during the pandemic.
12 loans were approved through the federal government and other companies, but the couple used it to buy luxury items. Documents show that includes a house in North Carolina, two cars and two UTVs. They also used $23,000 for restitution in another criminal case. In total, the couple stole $881,058.35.
"We had 30 fraud applications. All lies," Judge Thomas Barber said in the courtroom.
Barber said the scheme belonged on the show "American Greed." Barber also told Anthony Bruey he thought his wife Amber was the more culpable mastermind.
"This is all done without thinking what this does to the family...there's every reason that she's [Amber] a good parent, good mom, excepting for committing crimes," Barber said to Amber Bruey.
As Anthony was sentenced, he broke down crying while Amber stayed silent.
"We're not trying to cause any problem. We already did and we're trying to get out of it. We're sorry," Anthony told Fox 4 outside the courtroom.
Back in June, Anthony told the judge he wanted to self-surrender to prison and take all the prison time instead of his wife so she could take care of their four kids with a fifth on the way. The judge did not sentence that way.
During the sentencing, the judge said he took any criminal record, confidential reports and other circumstances into consideration.
Anthony will be required to report to prison by August 15 while Amber will not go until April 3. The judge set her date to after she gives birth.
In addition, the couple will have to participate in a mental health program. They will not be able to open any new lines of credit or make big purchases without talking to a probation officer. The pair will also have to participate in random drug tests. The couple is required to pay back the amount that they stole.
Amber's lawyer filed an objection letter to the ruling and level 2 enhancements for appellate purposes.
