Former Florida lawmaker who penned "Don't Say Gay" bill sentenced to prison over COVID loan fraud...

MONEYWATCH
Former Florida lawmaker who penned "Don't Say Gay" bill sentenced to prison over COVID loan fraud
moneywatch
BY AIMEE PICCHI

OCTOBER 20, 2023 / 11:07 AM / MONEYWATCH

A former Florida lawmaker who penned the state's controversial "Don't Say Gay" law has been sentenced to prison for wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements in connection with obtaining $150,000 in COVID-19 relief loans.

Joseph Harding, 36, of Ocala, Florida, will serve four months in federal prison, according to a statement on Thursday from the U.S. attorney's office in the Northern District of Florida. After his release, Harding will have two years of supervised release.

An attorney for Harding, John Lauro, told CBS MoneyWatch that the $150,000 in loans were repaid to the government prior to the litigation.

"Joe cooperated completely and did everything he could to make things right," Lauro said. "These events were, needless to say unfortunate, but Joe is focused on rebuilding his life and his career, and moving forward."

Harding defrauded the Small Business Administration to obtain COVID relief funds including an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), which he submitted in the name of a business he owned that wasn't active, the U.S. attorney's office said. After receiving the money, he used the funds to pay off his credit card and transferred money to his joint bank account, as well as to the account of a third-party business.