‘Christian Ministry’ Leaders Arrested in Florida on Federal Charges of Fraud
Two Christian ministry leaders in Florida have been arrested for their part in fraudulently obtaining COVID relief funds totaling over $8 million.
Edwards family, from left: son Josh, Evan, wife Mary Jane, and daughter Joy.
Father and son, Evan and Josh Edwards respectively, were taken from their home in New Smyrna Beach on December 14.
The six federal counts include conspiracy to commit bank fraud and visa fraud related to their obtaining Payroll Protection Program loan funds based on false statements about the size and payroll of the ministry, according to NBC News reporting.
The family tried to use at least $3.7 million of the fraudulently obtained loans to buy a new home in a Walt Disney World development called Golden Oaks. However, the purchase was never completed because federal authorities intervened.
As previously reported by MinistryWatch, in September 2020, the federal government seized over $7.6 million in assets from ASLAN International Ministry as part of a civil asset forfeiture proceeding by the United States Secret Service for money laundering and bank fraud offenses in September 2020.
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The ministry, started in 2005 by Evan Edwards and moved from Ohio to Orlando, Florida in 2018, claimed in its loan applications to have over 480 employees, and an average monthly payroll of $2,764,438.
However, adjacent tenants to the listed business address told federal agents “they had not observed anyone coming in or out of ASLAN’s office, to include deliveries, or seen other signs that the office was being occupied.”
When the U.S. Secret Service attempted to search the family’s Florida residence on September 17, they found it empty. “No persons or vehicles were located at the residence.”
Later that day, the Edwards’ were located when the Florida Department of Law Enforcement stopped them on I-75 for a speeding violation.
Officers conducting the stop noticed computer bags, a document shredder, and large clear garbage bags with what appeared to be shredded documents. The vehicle was also stuffed full of suitcases and other bags.
The Edwards’ stated they were “on their way to Texas for a conference, but could not give any specifics about the conference.”
Suitcases containing business records and financial documents along with a handwritten note “detailing that the Department of Homeland Security [had] frozen their account because of an SBA/PPP loan” were also found during the vehicle search.
In April 2021, a default judgment was entered against the Edwards recovering the fraudulently obtained funds.
