Florida Woman Arrested Driving Stolen Van To Federal Fraud Trial

Latoya Clark was arrested Wednesday morning while driving a stolen cargo van to her federal trial in Fort Pierce, Florida. A license plate reader identified the 2025 Ram ProMaster as stolen when Clark was pulled over by deputies around 8:30 AM, just blocks from the U.S. District Court. After being handcuffed, Clark told officers “Oh, I know why,” explaining she was heading to federal court “because she is on trial for a federal crime.” Clark had rented the van from U-Haul two months earlier but failed to return it. She faces federal charges for allegedly defrauding $29 million from COVID-relief programs through 92 bogus claims with five co-defendants. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon revoked Clark’s $250,000 bond following the arrest, rejecting defense claims that keeping the van was “born entirely out of poverty, desperation, and survival.” (Story URL)