Palm Beach Sheriff's Deputy Arrested for PPP Fraud: The Cops Are the C

Palm Beach Sheriff's Deputy Arrested for PPP Fraud: The Cops Are the Crooks

Posted: February 3, 2026 – 7:45 PM ET | NEW

Here's something that'll make your blood boil: the same people we trust to uphold the law are apparently just as eager to rob the pandemic relief system blind as everyone else. Bedson Raymond, a 29-year-old deputy with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, was arrested last week for PPP loan fraud. And honestly? I'm not even surprised anymore.

Let me break this down for you. Raymond allegedly secured an SBA loan under the Paycheck Protection Program for $20,833 back in April 2021. The application claimed he owned a trucking business with an Amazon route. Sounds legit, right? Except here's the thing: he didn't own a trucking business. He was working for the Palm Beach County School District as a behavioral intervention associate. You know, helping kids. While simultaneously defrauding the federal government.

    $20,833 in PPP funds obtained by a sheriff's deputy who allegedly never owned the trucking business he claimed on his application.

    

THE INVESTIGATION

When detectives first interviewed Raymond in July, he played dumb. Said he owned a trucking business with an Amazon route but denied applying for any loans. Also denied owning a barbershop, which apparently came up somewhere in the investigation. Classic deflection.

But here's where it gets good. When investigators presented Raymond with actual evidence, specifically proof that he controlled the bank accounts where the PPP money landed, his story changed real quick. Suddenly he remembered everything. Yes, he owned the bank accounts. Yes, he applied for PPP loan forgiveness. Funny how evidence does that to people.

THE CHARGES

Raymond is now facing charges of fraud and swindle to obtain property valued between $20,000 and $50,000. He's sitting in Palm Beach County Jail on $40,000 bond. The Sheriff's Office has put him on administrative leave with pay, which means we're literally paying this guy's salary while he awaits trial for stealing pandemic relief funds. You can't make this stuff up.

    Raymond is on ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE WITH PAY while awaiting trial for fraud. Your tax dollars at work.

    

THE STATEMENT NOBODY ASKED FOR

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office released one of those carefully worded statements that say absolutely nothing while pretending to say something: "The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office holds all employees to the highest standards and remains committed to maintaining the public's trust. Unfortunately, there are occasions when an employee's poor decisions result in misconduct."

Poor decisions? POOR DECISIONS? The man allegedly committed federal fraud while wearing a badge. That's not a poor decision like forgetting your lunch at home. That's a calculated scheme to steal money that was supposed to keep small businesses alive during a global pandemic.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

This isn't an isolated incident, and that's what really gets me. Down in Broward County, we've seen 50 to 70 sheriff's office employees accused in PPP loan fraud schemes. A BSO SWAT deputy was sentenced to prison for COVID-19 relief fraud just last year. There was a hung jury for another detention deputy charged with PPP fraud.

These are the people we pay to protect us. The people with guns and badges and the authority to arrest citizens. And they're out here filing fake loan applications like it's a side hustle. Meanwhile, actual small business owners who applied honestly are still waiting for help, still drowning in debt, still getting harassed by SBA collections.

THE REAL QUESTION

How many more are out there? If we're catching deputies and SWAT team members and detention officers, what does that tell you about the integrity of the screening process? These people had access to the same broken system everyone else did, and apparently the thought of consequences didn't even cross their minds.

The SBA handed out over $800 billion in PPP loans with minimal oversight. They were so desperate to get money out the door that they forgot to check if the people receiving it actually owned businesses. And now, years later, we're still uncovering fraud. Still seeing arrests. Still watching the very people who should be enforcing the law get hauled off in handcuffs.

    Broward County Sheriff's Office alone has seen 50-70 employees accused of PPP fraud. This isn't a few bad apples. This is an orchard.

    

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Raymond will have his day in court. He'll probably get a lawyer who argues the application was confusing or that he didn't understand the requirements. Maybe he'll plea down. Maybe he'll do a few months and come out the other side with a podcast about his experience.

But here's what won't happen: nobody's going to fix the system that made this possible. Nobody's going to overhaul SBA lending to prevent the next wave of fraud. The same institutions that failed to catch billions in fraudulent applications are still running the show, still collecting their government salaries, still pretending they did the best they could under difficult circumstances.

And the actual small business owners? They're on their own. Always have been. Always will be.

Stay angry. Stay vigilant. The system isn't broken, it's working exactly as designed, just not for you.