Reports

BOSTON – A Stoughton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with filing a fraudulent loan application in order to obtain over $400,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds.

BOSTON – A Leicester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for his involvement in fraud schemes affecting the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Programs in Massachusetts and Nevada.

BOSTON – A Winchester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with filing fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $13 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for COVID-19 relief through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

We found that Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) did not verify artists’ eligibility prior to issuing grants totaling $1,456,000 from the MCC's COVID-19 pandemic relief funding. We also found that MCC’s Internal Control Plan was not updated with a COVID-19 component. Additionally, the OSA found that MCC did not ensure all employees completed the required annual cybersecurity awareness training.

In this performance audit, we reviewed Bridgewater State University's (BSU) use of funding from the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF) received through the CARES Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA). BSU received grant funding under two components of the ESF: direct funding from the United States Department of Education (US DOE), and funding from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (MDHE). The purpose of our audit was to determine whether BSU administered the federal assistance it received in accordance with the criteria established...

In this performance audit, we reviewed financial activity from federal funding provided by the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, and the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. In addition, we reviewed Bunker Hill Community College’s (BHCC) compliance with the Office of the Comptroller of the Commonwealth’s guidance on revisions to its internal control plan to address operational changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The audit found BHCC did not accurately record and report the institutional portion of Higher Education Emergency Relief...

BOSTON – A former Massachusetts resident and owner of a Massachusetts-based painting company has been arrested and charged in connection with allegedly filing a fraudulent loan application to obtain $2.5 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

In this performance audit, we reviewed financial activity from federal funding provided by the CARES Act, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA), and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Middlesex Community College (MCC) received grant funding under two components of the CARES Act’s Education Stabilization Fund: direct funding from the United States Department of Education (US DOE) and funding from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (MDHE). The purpose of our audit was to determine whether MCC administered the CARES Act, CRRSAA, and ARP Act...

BOSTON – A Leicester woman has pleaded guilty to her involvement in a pandemic unemployment fraud scheme.

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to fraud, identity theft, firearm and drug offenses.