David Hines Uses Coronavirus Federal Aid To Buy $318,000 Lamborghini

A man from Florida David Hines used the money given to him as coronavirus aid through the Paycheck Protection Program to buy a $318,000 Lamborghini. Hines’ business was in debt of more than $30,000, and he had gotten a $4 million loan from the government. In addition to the car, Hines spent $4,600 at Saks Fifth Avenue and thousands of dollars more on extravagant hotels and expensive jewelry. 

Police were able to catch Hines after he was involved in a hit and run accident in early July. He was arrested and charged with making false statements to a lending institution, bank fraud and engaging transactions in unlawful proceeds. 

When Hines’ bank account froze, his balance was $4,463,162 and there were no payments made on the loans. 

United States Postal Inspector Bryan Masmela further explained in an affidavit, “Collectively, Hines falsely claimed his companies paid millions of dollars in payroll in the first quarter of 2020. State and bank records, however, show little to no payroll expense during this period.”

Masmela went on, “A review of Hines Companies Accounts from January through April of 2020 shows monthly inflows averaging around $200,000 – far less than the millions of dollars in payroll that Hines sought in the PPP application.” 

Masmela said in conclusion, “There does not appear to be any business purposes for most, if not all, of these expenses.”

Hines’ attorney Chad Piotrowski gave a statement to The Washington Post, “David is a legitimate business owner who, like millions of Americans, suffered financially during the Pandemic.”