Faraday Bags and Faked Dementia: The High-Tech Hubris of an $8 Million Covid Fraud Scheme
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The Digital Smoke Screen
When federal agents first targeted the operation of ASLAN International, they weren’t just looking for missing millions; they were encountering a level of operational security usually reserved for corporate espionage or high-level intelligence work. The case of Evan Edwards and his son, Josh, has finally reached a legal conclusion, but the details reveal a sophisticated attempt to evade the very digital breadcrumbs that modern law enforcement relies upon.
Central to the government’s evidence were signal-blocking Faraday bags—specialized pouches designed to shield electronic devices from radio frequency (RF) signals. By placing their phones in these bags, the Edwardses attempted to neutralize GPS tracking and remote wiping capabilities, effectively creating a portable dead zone to hinder real-time surveillance. This technical layer of evasion, combined with bags of shredded documents discovered in a beige Mercedes SUV, suggested a level of premeditation that went far beyond a simple opportunistic loan application.
The Architecture of the Grift
The scheme centered on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a wartime-speed financial injection designed to save small businesses during the 2020 lockdowns. According to federal forfeiture complaints, Josh Edwards applied for an initial $6 million loan, claiming the ASLAN International Ministry employed 486 people with a monthly payroll of $2.7 million. The loan was eventually bumped to $8.4 million.
The disparity between the digital application and the physical reality was stark. When investigators visited the ministry’s Orlando office, they found a ghost operation. Neighboring businesses reported that the office was essentially vacant—a stark contrast to the massive payroll the government was asked to subsidize. Further investigation revealed that the accountant listed on the application was a man suffering from dementia who had not performed professional work since 2017, suggesting the fraud was built on identity theft or the exploitation of the cognitively impaired.
The Legal Paradox of Competency
The case took a surreal turn as it moved through the courts, evolving into a battle over mental health and legal accountability. For years, the proceedings were stalled by questions of whether the defendants were feigning symptoms to avoid incarceration—a tactic reminiscent of historical mob figures.
Ultimately, the justice system reached two very different conclusions for the father and son. In March 2025, charges against the elder Evan Edwards were dropped entirely. A magistrate judge determined that Evan suffered from “moderate to severe dementia and significant and permanent cognitive deficits,” rendering him incompetent to stand trial. This creates a poignant irony: the man allegedly used a dementia-stricken accountant to secure the funds, only to eventually be released because of his own cognitive decline.
The Fallout for Josh Edwards
Josh Edwards, however, did not fare as well. Despite arguments from his defense attorney, Andrew Searle, that Josh was a “fall guy” for a family operation controlled by his parents and sister, the court ruled him competent. Searle argued that Josh’s autism and learning disabilities made him a dependent actor, executing the directions of his family.
On Tuesday, a judge sentenced Josh to four years and three months in prison. The sentence exceeded the 36-month recommendation from the government—which would have effectively meant time served. As a Canadian citizen, Josh is expected to be deported following the completion of his sentence.
A Legacy of Systematic Failure
The ASLAN case is a microcosm of the broader PPP failure. Government reports indicate that over $200 billion in relief funds were likely diverted to fraudsters between 2020 and 2022. The use of Faraday bags and shredded documents in the Edwards case highlights a growing trend where white-collar criminals are adopting “anti-forensic” toolkits to combat the increasing precision of digital surveillance.
For the family members in Canada, the revelation was a shock to the system. “His whole life was devoted to the church,” said Alan Heringa, a cousin of Evan Edwards. “To scam the government, it’s just unbelievable.” While the legal case is closed, the incident remains a textbook example of how the intersection of emergency legislation and digital evasion tools can facilitate multi-million dollar thefts in plain sight.
