In a shocking turn of events, Miami real estate broker and influencer Daniela Rendon has been accused of misappropriating $381,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Instead of using these funds to support employees during the pandemic, Rendon allegedly spent the money on a lavish lifestyle, including a Bentley, cosmetic procedures, and a luxury apartment.
Rendon, 31, received the funds through the Small Business Administration and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as reported by the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. However, instead of helping her business weather the storm, she chose to squander the funds for personal gain. Among her extravagant purchases were a 2021 Bentley Bentayga, a posh Biscayne Bay apartment, and cosmetic work. She even used some of the taxpayer money to refurbish a pair of designer shoes.
Rendon's social media pages, which have since been set to private following her arrest, showcased her lavish lifestyle in Miami and beyond. This deception caught the attention of federal authorities, who arrested her and charged her with fraud. During her arraignment, prosecutors argued that Rendon was a flight risk to her native Colombia, a claim her attorney denied, according to the Miami Herald. A judge set her bond at $150,000, and Rendon, a mother of three, now faces the daunting task of defending herself against these charges.
The lawsuit targets garage owners 57 Ann Street Realty Associates, Alan and Jeffrey Henick, Little Man Parking LLC, and Enterprise Ann Parking LLC, accusing them of negligence and a wanton disregard for human life and property. The court papers detail the plaintiffs' grievances and demand compensation for their losses.
Rendon allegedly falsified documents related to her real estate business to secure the PPP funds. These fabrications included inflating her annual revenue, payroll, costs of products, IRS tax information, and the number of employees. She submitted these falsified reports to lenders in New Jersey and Idaho, as the Miami Herald reported.