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Florida lawmakers charged by federal prosecutors announced Wednesday the indictment of a Florida state representative who allegedly defrauded the Small Business Administration of thousands of dollars in coronavirus aid loans.
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State Rep. Joseph Harding obtained more than $150,000 in SBA loans by lying on his loan applications, according to a news release from Justice.
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Prosecutors allege that Harding listed fake companies in her statements, fabricated the number of people she employed and submitted falsified bank statements.
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Harding, 35, is charged with bank fraud, money laundering and perjury, the DOJ said in a release.
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Money laundering is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison, money laundering by 10 years and giving false statements by a maximum of 5 years in prison.
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His trial is scheduled for January 11 in Gainesville, Florida.
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Harding was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020. According to his website, he continues to hold public office.
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In a statement to The New York Times, he said he pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance on Wednesday.
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"I want the public and my constituents to know that I have fully repaid the loan and cooperated with investigators as requested," Harding told the Times.