Cops Nab Four in $500K Covid Fraud Scheme

by Ryan Yousefi June 12, 2025

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Ebel Isme, Vielande Isme, Sandra Isme, and Wisler Isme. {BSO}

Four Broward residents were arrested for allegedly orchestrating a coordinated scheme to defraud federal COVID-19 relief programs of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

According to Coconut Creek Police Department arrest records, Wisler Isme, 40, of Fort Lauderdale, was taken into custody by their department on June 5 as part of a coordinated operation involving four separate cases of alleged fraudulent loan applications from the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and similar programs in June 2020.

Records show that Wisler is accused of receiving over $130,000 in COVID-19-related relief funds that he allegedly obtained by fabricating details, such as inflated income and business size, to qualify for pandemic-era funding intended to assist struggling small businesses.

Wisler’s arrest coincided with that of three others bearing the same last name, all of whom were taken into custody on the same day and charged with similar offenses.

Sandra Isme, 41, of Lauderdale Lakes, was arrested by the Wilton Manors Police Department on a warrant that shows she allegedly received $17,167 through a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan application submitted on June 25, 2020.

Vielande Julme Isme, 41, of Plantation, was arrested by the Plantation Police Department and is accused of receiving or attempting to receive over $150,000 via the PPP and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program using falsified claims.

Ebel Isme, 45, of Tamarac, was arrested by the Wilton Manors Police Department on suspicion of attempting to receive or receiving more than $343,000 through separate EIDL and SBA applications that included false information.

All four arrests were processed through the Broward County court system on June 5, indicating that the cases are likely interconnected. Authorities have not confirmed whether the individuals are related, but the coordinated arrests and nearly identical alleged fraudulent tactics point to a possible organized effort.

All four were transported to the Broward County Main Jail, where they are held without bond.

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.