The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored controversial law critics’ “Don’t Say Gay” was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison for defrauding a federal coronavirus small business loan program.

Former state Rep. Joe Harding, a 36-year-old Republican, resigned in December after he was accused of fraudulently obtaining more than $150,000 in pandemic relief loans from the Small Business Administration. He pleaded guilty in March to fraud, money laundering and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud.

The theft of any amount of taxpayer money is inexcusable, said U.S. Atty. Jason Coody in a press release. However, Defendants’ deceptive actions to divert emergency financial assistance from small businesses during the pandemic are simply incomprehensible.”

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According to court documents, Harding made false statements to the SBA while applying for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan for one of his dormant business entities. After obtaining $150,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, Harding made three monetary transactions, each involving more than $10,000 in fraudulently obtained funds, according to prosecutors: a wire transfer to his joint bank account, a charge to his credit card and a wire transfer to a bank. account of an external business entity.

The

loan programEconomic Injury Disaster Loan Program

It was intended to provide economic relief to small businesses experiencing a temporary loss of revenue.

Harding became nationally known last year for his sponsorship of a bill banning sexual orientation and gender identity instruction in kindergarten through third grade, as well as age-inappropriate material, which became known as Don’t Say Gay.