Damara Holness, daughter of Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness, plead guilty to a Federal charge of lying on a COVID-19 relief loan application and fraudulently obtaining hundreds of thousands of dollars intended to help small businesses during the pandemic. As part of her plea deal announced on Wednesday, Damara Holness admitted she obtained a June 2020 PPP loan for $300,000 for her company, Holness Consulting Inc. Holness admitted using phony payroll forms which stated she employed 18 people.

REDBROWARD first exposed Damara Holness’ PPP loan issues in July 2020.

After obtaining the money, Damara Holness admitted to creating a false paper trail to hide her scheme. This included writing checks to “employees” who would endorse them over to Damara Holness.

Damara Holness faces up to twenty years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 dollars.