Philadelphia resident Ashley Stibbins-Parker finds herself in legal trouble after allegedly stealing a COVID-19 relief check and embarking on a lavish spending spree. Court documents obtained by WPLG reveal that Stibbins-Parker established a fraudulent bank account under the name “City of Weston LLC” in Georgia, with the intention of depositing the funds. The check, amounting to $184,838.72, was issued on February 12, 2021, by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners as part of the federal CARES Act relief program. However, it never reached its intended destination at Weston City Hall in Florida.
Investigators discovered that the money was deposited into a Bank of America account in Sandy Springs, Georgia, under the name “City of Weston LLC” on March 15, 2021. The account had been opened just three days prior, on March 12, 2021. Stibbins-Parker is accused of filing a fraudulent certificate of organization with the state of Georgia for “City of Weston LLC” and listing herself as the registered agent and organizer. Her addresses were traced to Atlanta and Philadelphia, where she possessed a valid driver’s license.
Before authorities caught wind of the scheme, Stibbins-Parker allegedly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars using cashier’s checks, cash withdrawals, Zelle debits, and a Mastercard linked to the fraudulent account. Notably, on March 30, 2021, she reportedly used the stolen funds to pay $6,250 for a Brazilian butt lift at a plastic surgery center in Miramar. Additionally, she indulged in multiple plane trips, booked hotel rooms, engaged in luxury shopping sprees, and sent thousands of dollars to various individuals mentioned in the arrest warrant. Court documents estimate that the Bank of America suffered a total loss of $131,888.22.
The circumstances surrounding how Stibbins-Parker obtained the relief check remain unclear, as does the involvement of any other individuals in the scheme. Stibbins-Parker was apprehended in Maryland and appeared before a judge on June 14. Subsequently, she was extradited to Florida, where she currently remains incarcerated at Broward County jail on $200,000 bail. She faces several charges, including organized fraud, money laundering, and first-degree grand theft.
