Confusion Surrounds DOJ’s COVID Fraud Case

The Justice Department has sparked some confusion regarding a COVID fraud case involving a Louisiana man pretending to be a woman.

On Thursday, 33-year-old Brandon Jarraw was found guilty of theft of government funds and making false statements. This conviction stems from two separate incidents linked to COVID-related assistance intended for small businesses. In June 2020, Jarraw submitted a fraudulent application for loans from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, leading to a loss of $95,000 in government funds. Later, in February 2021, he provided misleading information to lenders about fictitious businesses, which resulted in a $20,833 payroll protection program loan.

Jarraw now faces a fine of $250,000 and a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years, with sentencing scheduled for August 13.

Interestingly, the press release referred to Jarraw as a “New Orleans woman” and used female pronouns, despite his legal name being Brandon. A quick look at his Facebook photos shows a more masculine appearance, raising eyebrows about the inconsistency.

In various posts, he has described himself as a “trans” individual and referred to himself as the “Queen” of New Orleans.

The gender-related ambiguity in the DOJ press release is particularly noteworthy given President Trump’s executive order emphasizing fixed biological definitions of gender. This order states that terms like “woman” and “girl” refer specifically to human females, while “male” and “boy” pertain to males.

In March 2021, Jarraw appeared in a PBS documentary titled “A Fine Girl,” where he was characterized as a “Trans of Color” who opened a luxury salon. The documentary aimed to portray the positive contributions of trans individuals to the community, but that video is set to expire in April 2024.

Moreover, Shane Jones from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Louisiana did not respond to requests for clarification regarding the DOJ’s characterization of Jarraw’s identity.

Adding to his legal troubles, Jarraw has had past encounters with local police. In November, the New Orleans Police issued alerts concerning him in relation to identity theft cases involving stolen phones and wallets.

In both instances, victims reported their identities compromised, and investigations led to Jarraw as a suspect who used their information for fraudulent activities.