Alleged fake car dealership owner arrested for COVID-19 relief fraud in West Palm Beach

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A West Palm Beach man was arrested for reportedly swindling over $347,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds back in 2021.

Authorities said Johnley Jorcilien, 32, made up details about his business to secure a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), part of a federal loan program to assist those suffering financially during the pandemic.

In April 2021, Jorcilien allegedly applied for the relief funds from a lender that loans directly to small businesses and consumers. He claimed the loan was for his used car dealership business called Leaselikenew Autos, LLC, located at 2040 Mears Pkwy. Margate, FL, investigators stated in the probable cause affidavit.

Jorcilien is listed as the sole owner and manager of the company, and in 2020, he added his personal West Palm Beach address as a primary business address -- but his apartment isn't a proper business address, and the company has been listed as inactive since September 2021, according to SunBiz.