Harding is accused of stealing obtaining more than $150,000 "to which he was not entitled," according to the U.S. Department of Justice. If convicted, he faces up to 35 years in prison.

Source: Tampa Bay Times

State Rep. Joe Harding, a Republican from north Florida, was indicted Wednesday on charges of money laundering and wire fraud after a federal grand jury said he falsely claimed two inactive businesses of his had employees in order to get coronavirus-related loans.

The federal indictment accuses Harding, R-Ocala, of scheming to defraud the Small Business Administration in order to get Economic Injury Disaster Loans, saying he obtained or attempted to obtain more than $150,000 “to which he was not entitled,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.

Harding in a statement said he pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and said he wants “the public and my constituents to know that I fully repaid the loan and cooperated with investigators as requested.”

He added that “on advice from counsel, I will be unable to say anything more specific about the legal proceedings” until later and asked for prayers as he and his family “work for a fair and just resolution.”