Former Florida Lawmaker Who Sponsored 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Relief Fraud

Harding Sentenced to Prison and Fined $300 for Obtaining $150,000 in Pandemic Relief Funds under False Pretenses

Former Florida state Rep. Joe Harding, known for sponsoring the controversial 'Don't Say Gay' bill, was sentenced to four months in federal prison for fraudulent acquisition of over $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds for small businesses.
Harding, a 36-year-old Republican, lied about the status of his dormant business entities, claiming they were active and had employees. This allowed him to qualify for the loans through the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Upon receiving the relief funds, Harding conducted three significant monetary transactions: transferring money to his joint bank account, paying off his credit card, and depositing funds into a third-party business account.
Harding pled guilty in March to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with the relief fraud. After prison, he will face two years of supervised release and has been fined $300.
Federal authorities express outrage over Harding's actions, stating that his fraudulent activities diverted emergency financial assistance away from legitimate small businesses in need during the pandemic.