Florida Man Loses Citizenship Over COVID Relief Fraud

A man originally from Haiti has lost his U.S. citizenship after a federal judge determined he defrauded COVID-19 relief programs of millions of dollars and provided false statements during his naturalization process. Joff Stenn Wroy Philossaint, 25, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was ordered by a U.S. District Court in Florida to forfeit his citizenship.

Fraudulent Activities and False Statements

Prosecutors stated that Philossaint engaged in fraudulent activities from April 2020 to May 2021, obtaining COVID-19 relief funds through his own companies. He also prepared fraudulent loan applications for five other companies, earning a 10 percent commission from these transactions. Authorities reported that Philossaint and his co-conspirators submitted 40 fraudulent loan applications, securing approximately $3.8 million. Philossaint himself received about $549,000 in loan funds and kickbacks.

The court found that Philossaint had hidden his criminal activities when applying for U.S. citizenship. He applied in February 2020, before the fraud began. During a naturalization interview on December 15, he allegedly denied providing false information to obtain COVID-19 relief funds. He was granted U.S. citizenship in February 2021.

Conviction, Sentencing, and Citizenship Revocation

In September 2021, prosecutors charged Philossaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to launder money, and unlawful procurement of citizenship. He pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges, and a jury later found him guilty of unlawfully obtaining citizenship. In 2023, a federal judge sentenced him to 12 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida emphasized the principle of accountability: “United States citizenship is one of the greatest privileges our nation can offer, and it must be earned honestly. This defendant built his path to citizenship on false statements while stealing millions from programs meant to keep small businesses alive during the pandemic. The court’s order revoking his citizenship restores accountability and reinforces a simple principle: if you lie to obtain immigration benefits and commit federal crimes, you will lose what you unlawfully gained.”