You can be on Entrepreneur’s cover!

Pastor and His Son Busted for a $8 Million Covid Scam. 'The Worst Scuzz on the Face of the Earth.' Evan and Josh Edwards were arrested today for massive bank fraud, falsely exaggerating the size and scope of their Christian ministry.

By Jonathan Small

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

A Florida pastor and his son are accused of doing some very unholy things.

Earlier this morning, Pastor Evan Edwards and his son Josh, 30, were arrested for bilking taxpayers of $8 million in a COVID-19 relief scam. Police made the arrest at the Edwards's home in New Smyrna Beach. The elder Evans was seen being pushed in a wheelchair.

The Edwards are Christian missionaries from Canada who moved to Florida in 2019. They ran an organization called ASLAN International Ministry.

According to an indictment unsealed today, Josh Edwards "submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application" on behalf of ASLAN International Ministry for $6 million, claiming their ministry had "average monthly payroll expenses" of over $2.7 million and over 480 employees. In truth, according to prosecutors, those numbers were "significantly lower, or entirely nonexistent."

Still, back in 2020, the government ultimately approved ASLAN International for an $8.4 million loan.

Related: I Went to Prison for SBA Loan Fraud: 7 Things to Know When Taking COVID-19 Relief Money

A long investigation

The Edwards case dates back to April 2020, when investigators began to see some red flags around the loan.

For instance, the accountant the ministry allegedly used suffered from dementia and hadn't done any work for the organization since 2017, according to an investigation by NBC News.

Later, when Florida Highway Patrol pulled over the Edwards family speeding down I-75 north, they discovered garbage bags full of shredded documents and electronic devices packed in a so-called Faraday bag, which blocks radio frequencies.

Cops also found a 49-page research manual published by the Bureau of Justice called 'Tracing Money Flows Through Financial Institutions.'

Despite the evidence and the damning report by NBC, it took 18 months to file charges in the case.

But today, Evan Edwards and his son Josh were taken to the federal courthouse in Orlando, where they appeared before a judge. Josh Edwards appeared disoriented and refused to answer the judge's questions, according to WESH-2 News. The judge ordered a psychiatric evaluation.

Meanwhile, the reaction in the community has been a mix of shock and indignation.

"We're interested to hear the full story. It's just totally out of character for a man of God, supposedly," a cousin told NBC News.

Some neighbors were less forgiving.

"He stole money during a pandemic," a neighbor told NBC. "He stole it in the name of God. That makes you the worst scuzz on the face of the Earth."

Jonathan Small

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

Founder, Write About Now Media

Jonathan Small is an award-winning author, journalist, producer, and podcast host. For 25 years, he has worked as a sought-after storyteller for top media companies such as The New York Times, Hearst, Entrepreneur, and Condé Nast. He has held executive roles at Glamour, Fitness, and Entrepreneur and regularly contributes to The New York Times, TV Guide, Cosmo, Details, Maxim, and Good Housekeeping. He is the former “Jake” advice columnist for Glamour magazine and the “Guy Guru” at Cosmo.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

From Tom Brady to Kevin O'Leary – See Who Lost Big in the Wake of the FTX Crypto Collapse

The crash exposed an $8 billion hole in FTX's accounts, leaving investors and customers scrambling to recoup their funds.

Business News

This Highly-Debated Piece of Cinematic History Just Sold For Over $700,000 at Auction

The wood panel from "Titanic" is often mistaken as a door. Either way, he couldn't have fit. (Sorry.)

Fundraising

Avoid These 9 Pitch Deck Mistakes When Asking Others For Money

Crafting an efficient pitch deck requires serious effort, but at least it's not wandering in the dark since certain rules are shaped by decades of relationships between startups and investors.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.