A Florida woman facing serious federal fraud charges was arrested Wednesday morning after deputies discovered she was driving a stolen vehicle—on her way to court for her own trial.
Pulled Over Near the Courthouse
Latoya Clark, 39, was stopped just blocks from the U.S. District Court in Fort Pierce after a license plate reader flagged the vehicle she was driving as stolen. Authorities say Clark was behind the wheel of a 2025 Ram ProMaster cargo van when a sheriff’s deputy pulled her over around 8:30 a.m.
After being handcuffed, Clark reportedly acknowledged the situation. “Oh, I know why,” she said, adding that she was headed to the federal courthouse “because she is on trial for a federal crime.”
Van Reported Stolen
Court records show Clark rented the van from U-Haul two months ago under a one-day agreement. When the vehicle was not returned, it was reported stolen. Clark was charged with a felony and booked into the county jail, causing her to miss her scheduled appearance in federal court.
$29 Million COVID-Relief Scheme
Clark was indicted in May on charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege she and five others submitted 92 fraudulent COVID-relief applications, netting $29 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds. The money was allegedly funneled through shell companies, three of which Clark is accused of controlling.
Bond Revoked
Clark had been free on a $250,000 bond, but U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon revoked it following her arrest. Cannon rejected a defense claim that Clark’s failure to return the van was “born entirely out of poverty, desperation, and survival” and that she was living in the vehicle…