Florida Businessmen Sentenced for $14 Million COVID-19 Mask and Glove Sale Fraud
Brian H. Sperber and Edmond S. Norkus have been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to commit wire fraud, deceiving purchasers out of over $14 million in a personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sperber, 48, of Plantation, Florida, received a sentence of two years and two months, along with an order to pay $14,231,605.36 in restitution. Norkus, 61, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, was sentenced to three years and must pay $13,821,605.36 in restitution. Both pleaded guilty in May 2024.
The scheme involved Sperber, an authorized distributor for a Georgia-based PPE manufacturer, and Norkus, who operated warehouse space in Florida. They promised large quantities of PPE to buyers during the pandemic’s peak scarcity, diverting products intended for other customers and providing counterfeit documents to support their claims. Ultimately, they failed to deliver the promised equipment, retaining the funds for personal use.
Proceeds from the fraud were used to purchase a multi-million dollar waterfront mansion in Boca Raton, Florida. In a related civil forfeiture action, the property was sold for approximately $4 million, which will be restored to the victims as part of the restitution process.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorneys Alana R. Black and C. Brock Brockington prosecuted the case.
