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Fake ministry in Orlando gets busted trying to buy home near Disney

Orlando, Fla. — The federal government has reportedly seized $8.4 million in paycheck protection program loans that were sent to a “fake” ministry in Orlando that tried to use some of it to buy a home near Disney.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Evan and Joshua Edwards, who run the ASLAN International Ministry, acquired the funds after applying for the program. Once they got it, it was divided amongst the family and records show $3.71 million went towards the purchase of a home in the Symphony Grove neighborhood of Disney’s Golden Oak.

Court documents and complaints went on to list red flags that showed the ministry was a fake, and in September, federal agents went to the ministry’s headquarters on Orange Blossom Trail only to find an empty office space. It is also reported that the signature on the ministry’s IRS forms was from a man with dementia that was listed as the vice chairman, but he cannot speak and has not done accounting for them since 2017.

Eventually, the Edwards’ were caught in their car speeding on I-75 near Lake City. In the car, the complaint said that were shredded documents, a laser printer, and multiple laptops and tablets.

No charges have been filed, but the feds have seized the funds that they obtained through the paycheck protection program. Also, in case you were wondering where the family was going, the complaint says they were headed to a conference in Texas, but could not give any specifics about it.

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