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Department of Justice
Ringleader of Payment Protection Program Fraud Scheme Sentenced to Five Years in Prison
Raisha Kelly, 44, of Loxahatchee, FL was sentenced to sixty months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $443,895 in restitution by United States District Court Judge Federico A. Moreno. The sentence follows Kelly’s conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.
Department of Justice
Miami Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Leading Payment Protection Program Fraud Scheme
Lazaro Verdecia Hernandez, 37, of Miami, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for leading a scheme that involved obtaining fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and laundering the proceeds.
Department of Justice
Federal Law Enforcement Officer Arrested for Allegedly Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Business-Relief Funds for Shell Companies
A United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer has been arrested on a five-count federal grand jury indictment alleging he fraudulently obtained nearly $150,000 in COVID-19 pandemic business-relief loan funds for two of his sham businesses, the Justice Department announced today.
Department of Justice
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Fraudulently Spending More Than $300,000 In Covid Relief Funds
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Denys Perez (31, Tampa) has pleaded guilting to wire fraud related to COVID relief funds. Perez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. In addition, he faces a forfeiture order of $502,900, as well as a forfeiture order for the property he purchased with proceeds of his offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
Department of Justice
Two Businessmen, a Certified Public Accountant, and Four Puerto Rico-Based Businesses Indicted on Charges of Fraud, Bribery, and Money Laundering
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, announced the indictment of two businessmen, a certified public accountant, and four Puerto Rico-based companies for a fraudulent scheme to illegally obtain federal recovery funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, bribe a bank employee, and launder the fraudulent proceeds of the scheme.
Department of Justice
Arizona Brothers Plead Guilty for Roles in Conspiracies to Fraudulently Obtain Nearly $109 Million in Covid-Relief Funds
Two brothers from Sedona, Arizona, pleaded guilty for conspiring with one another and others to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) out of nearly $109 million in loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Indictment Charges St. Louis Man with COVID Fraud
Cortney Merritts, 46, of St. Louis, Missouri, was charged today by federal indictment with two counts of wire fraud for allegedly filing fraudulent applications with the Small Business Administration in 2020 and 2021 that allowed him to collect more than $20,000 in government funds under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Department of Justice
Maryland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Pandemic Relief Loan Fraud and Commercial Loan Fraud
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby sentenced Andra Shirone Thompson, 48, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to a year and a day for two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Thompson pled guilty to conspiring to defraud Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act loan programs and his role in a years-long scheme to defraud commercial equipment financing companies
Department of Justice
Tampa Man Arrested For Stealing More Than Half A Million Dollars In COVID Relief Funds
Tampa, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the indictment and arrest of Terrence Bradford (46, Tampa) for eight counts of wire fraud related to COVID relief funds. If convicted, Bradford faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. In addition, he faces a forfeiture order of $533,648.32, which represents the alleged proceeds he obtained through these offenses.
Department of Justice
Former MPD Officer Pleads Guilty to COVID Emergency Loan Fraud
Kalynn Fields, 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with filing false and misleading information in order to reap $35,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
Department of Justice
Former Baltimore Department Of Finance Employee Sentenced To Four Years In Connection With Bribery And Covid-19 Cares Act Scheme
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett, today, sentenced Joseph Gillespie, age 35, of Baltimore City, Maryland, to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release in connection with a bribery scheme and conspiracy to commit wire fraud scheme involving COVID-19 CARES Act relief benefits.
Department of Justice
Convicted Felon Admits To Defrauding COVID-19 Programs While On Supervised Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman pleaded guilty yesterday to carrying out a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $137,000 from the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program (PUA), the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL).
Department of Justice
Former Hawaii CEO Sentenced to 87 Months Imprisonment on Covid-Relief Fraud and Bank Fraud
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Kenneth M. Sorenson announced that Martin Kao, 51, of Honolulu, was sentenced today in federal court by Senior United States District Judge Leslie E. Kobayashi to 87 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised released for COVID-relief wire fraud, money laundering, and bank fraud.
Department of Justice
South Bay-Based Nursing Facilities Chain and Owner Agree to Pay $18 Million to Resolve COVID-Related False Claims Act Allegations
Torrance-based skilled nursing facilities chain Unified Care Services LLC, its affiliates, and its owner, Emmanual David, have agreed to pay $18 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by knowingly providing false information in support of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications and loan forgiveness applications submitted by Unified Care and its affiliates, the Justice Department announced today.
Department of Justice
Windermere Woman Charged With COVID Relief Fraud
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Carolina Amesty (30, Windermere) with two counts of theft of government property related to COVID relief fraud. Each count carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
Department of Justice
Non-Profit A Jewish Voice for Peace, Inc. to Pay $677,634 to Resolve PPP Fraud Allegations
A Jewish Voice for Peace, Inc., a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit organization, has agreed to pay $677,634 to settle allegations that the organization violated the False Claims Act when it applied for and received a $338,817 second-draw loan under the Paycheck Protection Act Program of the CARES Act Disaster Relief Program, and when it further applied for and was granted forgiveness of the entire amount of the loan.
Department of Justice
California Couple Sentenced for Defrauding Paycheck Protection Program
HONOLULU – On January 9, 2025, Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright sentenced Christopher A. Mazzei, 46, and Erin V. Mazzei, 43, both of Arroyo Grande, California, to 36 months and 27 months of imprisonment, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a scheme to defraud the government of forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds intended for Coronavirus-related relief.
Department of Justice
Phenix City Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 Loan Scheme
Department of Justice
Suburban Chicago Businessman Charged With Covid-Relief Fraud
FRANCESCO DISTEFANO and a co-defendant allegedly used fraud proceeds to purchase a Lamborghini Huracan, Maserati Ghibli, and Porsche 911.
Small Business Administration OIG
COVID-19: Data Sharing Project Finds Billions Paid to Same Likely Fraudsters Under Both the Unemployment Insurance and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Programs
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is issuing this inspection report to determine whether data sharing between the Employment and Training Administration and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) could mitigate the risk of fraudulent unemployment insurance benefit payments and SBA disaster program disbursements. In 2020, soon after Congress expanded the Unemployment Insurance and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Programs in response to the adverse economic effects caused by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Labor OIG and SBA OIG respectively began reporting...
Department of Justice
Co-Founders of Paycheck Protection Program Lender Service Provider Charged for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme
An indictment was unsealed yesterday in the Northern District of Texas charging two co-founders of Blueacorn, a lender service provider, in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Department of Justice
Yuba County Man Sentenced to 2 Years and 11 Months in Prison for Submitting False Claims Against the United States in Relation to a COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
Jason Toland, 44, of Wheatland, was sentenced today to two years and 11 months in prison for submitting false claims against the United States related to COVID-19 pandemic tax credits. Toland was also ordered to pay $2,078,462 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and the Small Business Administration.
Department of Justice
Jury Convicts Two Miami Residents for Involvement in Multi-Defendant PPP Scheme
On Nov. 8, a federal jury convicted Lazaro Verdecia Hernandez, 37, and Yadier Rodriguez Arteaga, 41, both of Miami, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering, in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Verdecia was also convicted of wire fraud.
Department of Justice
Former Miami-Dade Corrections Officer Pled Guilty to $150,000 COVID-19 Fraud
Yesterday, Daniel Fleureme, 56, of Miami-Dade County, a former Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department (MDCRD) Corrections Officer, pled guilty to wire fraud for defrauding a COVID-19 relief program by fraudulently obtaining an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
Department of Justice
Two Businesses and Their Owner Consent to an $850,000 Judgment to Resolve COVID-19 Relief Fraud Allegations
Brett Deuter and his businesses, Deuter Construction, LLC, and Enlighten, LLC, consented to an $850,000 judgment against them in United States District Court after admitting to violations of the False Claims Act, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced.
Department of Justice
South Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges an Attorney, Former SBA Employee, Tax Preparer, and others with COVID-19 Fraud Schemes
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida remains a leader in COVID-19 pandemic relief prosecutions, holding a range of actors accountable for these crimes. Over this summer alone, the district has charged 17 individuals with COVID-19 relief fraud cases, with scheme amounts totaling over $21 million.
Department of Justice
Atlanta Promoter, Entrepreneur, and Former NFL Player Sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud
Travis Lee Harris has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud stemming from his fraudulent acquisition of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for nearly $1,000,000, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Arizona Man and Co-Defendants Facing Federal Charges for Roles in $178 Million COVID-19 Fraud Conspiracy
A federal superseding indictment was unsealed Monday in the District of Oregon charging an Arizona man and three associates for conspiring with one another and others to devise and carry out a scheme that attempted to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration out of at least $178 million in loans intended to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Maryland Man Sentenced To A Year And A Day In Connection With Covid Fraud Scheme
Baltimore, Maryland –Senior United States District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Ayaz Qureshi, age 55, of Severna Park, Maryland to a year and a day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, in connection with a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting financial institutions, relating to more than $250,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) benefits. PPP benefits were a program created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans...
Department of Justice
Nevada Man Convicted Of $11.2 Million COVID-19 Fraud
LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted a Nevada man Wednesday for defrauding three banks of more than $11.2 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds intended to help small businesses impacted by the pandemic.
Department of Justice
Owner of San Diego-based Shammas Funding Inc. Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining $5 Million in Pandemic-Related Loans
SAN DIEGO – Andre Shammas, owner of Shammas Funding Inc., pleaded guilty in federal court today to fraud charges, admitting that he submitted bogus applications for more than $5 million in pandemic-related loans intended to help struggling businesses during the pandemic.
Department of Justice
Maryland Man Sentenced For Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $3.5 Million In Covid-19 Cares Act Loans
Greenbelt, Maryland – On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, the Honorable Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Rudolph Brooks, age 48, of Cheltenham, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison followed by 2 years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining over $3.5 million in COVID-19 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans. The Court also ordered Brooks to forfeit all property and assets derived from or obtained as a result of his criminal activity, including a 2018 Tesla Model 3, property located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and at least $2,231...
Department of Justice
SBA employee indicted in COVID-19 fraud scheme
A Carrollton man has been charged with federal violations related to a COVID-19 fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Department of Justice
Southern Oregon Restaurant Sentenced in Federal Court for Stealing Covid Relief Program Funds
A southern Oregon restaurant was sentenced in federal court today for stealing more than $759,000 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic
Department of Justice
Georgia Trucker Sentenced for PPP Fraud
Roderick Billingslea has been sentenced to federal prison for obtaining a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and operating illegal trucking businesses.
Department of Justice
Utah Restaurant Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID Fraud
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah restaurant owner who obtained over $1.88 million by defrauding the COVID-19 Relief program was sentenced today to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment.
Department of Justice
Georgia Man Indicted for Pandemic-Related Fraud and Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud
Mycheal Arnell Brady, also known as “Michael Brady,” has been indicted on federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, for stealing COVID-19 relief funds and submitting fraudulent federal tax refunds using the stolen identities of multiple individuals. Brady has also been charged with possession of unauthorized access devices that contained dozens of the identity theft victims’ personal information, including their Social Security numbers.
Department of Justice
Brentwood-Based Dental Offices Company and Former Owners Pay $6.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to COVID Relief
West Coast Dental Administrative Services LLC (formerly West Coast Dental Services Inc.), a Brentwood-based company which operates a network of dental offices in Southern California, and its founders and former owners, Drs. Soleyman Cohen-Sedgh, Farid Pakravan and Farhad Manavi, have paid $6.3 million to resolve allegations that they knowingly violated the False Claims Act in connection with seven improper loans that West Coast Dental Services Inc. (West Coast Dental) and affiliated dental offices received under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Department of Justice
Brandon Man Charged With COVID-19 Fraud
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Rosson Hamilton (40, Brandon) on an indictment charging him with two counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Hamilton faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count.
Department of Justice
Riverview Man Arrested For COVID-19 Fraud
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of David Antonetti (28, Riverview) on an indictment charging him with two counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Antonetti faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count.
Department of Justice
Former SBA Employee Charged with Wire and Bank Fraud in Connection with Filing False Applications for PPP and EIDL Loans and Covid-19 Rental Assistance
Malaina Chapman, 37, of Hialeah, Fla. has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud. She had her initial appearance in Miami federal court today.
Department of Justice
Jefferson County man sentenced for COVID-Relief fraud
A Beaumont man has been sentenced for federal violations related to a COVID-relief fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Department of Justice
Baltimore Man Sentenced To Seven Years In Connection With A Scheme To Fraudulently Obtain Almost $18 Million In Fraudulent Covid-19 Loans
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, United States District Judge Richard Bennett sentenced Ahmed Sary, age 46, of Baltimore, Maryland to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and one year of home detention, in connection with a conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting financial institutions, relating to the submission of more than $17.9 million in fraudulent CARES Act loan applications. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from...
Department of Justice
Former Vice President and Branch Manager of Popular Bank Convicted of Fraud and Money Laundering Charges
Anuli Okeke, the former vice president and manager of a New York branch of Popular Bank was convicted yesterday afternoon by a federal jury in Brooklyn of all four counts of an indictment charging her with conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The charges arose out of a scheme the defendant led to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Stealing Covid Relief Program Funds
A local man was sentenced to federal prison today for distributing counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in and around Portland and stealing federal funds intended to help small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Five Lowcountry Individuals Sentenced for Role in COVID-19 Loan Fraud
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Five of eight individuals who were charged for their role in a COVID-19 loan fraud scheme were sentenced this week.
Department of Justice
Nonprofit Organizations Pay Over $5.8 Million to Resolve Allegations of Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic-Related Loans
SAN DIEGO – Multiple nonprofit organizations—including two private country clubs and two homeowners associations—have paid $5,809,021.60 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims and obtaining Paycheck Protection Program loans for which they were not eligible.
Department of Justice
Former Seattle man who used fraud to obtain more than $500,000 in COVID benefits sentenced to 3+ years in prison
Seattle – A 30-year-old New York City man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 42 months in prison for three counts of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud related to his abuse of the COVID-19 Pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Department of Justice
Long Island Woman Indicted for $3.28 Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud Scheme
“As alleged, the defendant made a business out of defrauding the government by falsely claiming that she and others needed government loan benefits to pay their employees during the pandemic. This money was meant to help businesses weather the pandemic. In reality, the defendant was lining her own pockets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office will continue prosecuting those who took advantage of the COVID crisis and stole funds from vitally important government relief programs.”
Department of Justice
Kabbage Agrees to Pay up to $120 Million to Resolve Allegations that it Defrauded the Paycheck Protection Program
BOSTON – Bankrupt lender Kabbage, Inc. d/b/a KServicing, has agreed to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted thousands of false claims for loan forgiveness, loan guarantees, and processing fees to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), in violation of the False Claims Act (FCA).
Department of Justice
Wheatland Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting False Claims Against the United States in Relation to COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
Jason Toland, 43, of Wheatland, pleaded guilty today to one count of submitting false claims against the United States related to COVID-19 pandemic tax credits, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Department of Justice
Kingdom City Business Owner Sentenced for $673,000 CARES Act Fraud
A Kingdom City, Mo., business owner was sentenced in federal court today for fraudulently receiving more than $673,000 in loans for several businesses under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Department of Justice
Man Who Used COVID-19 Relief Funds to Purchase a Personal RV Sentenced to Prison
Department of Justice
Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding COVID-19 Relief Programs and Commercial Equipment Lenders
A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act loan programs and to his role in a years-long scheme to defraud commercial equipment financing companies.
Department of Justice
Former Atlantic City Housing Authority Coordinator Charged with Fraud in Connection With COVID-19 Relief Funds
CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was arrested today for fraudulent acts he committed in connection with COVID-19 relief funds.
Department of Justice
Clovis Businessman Sentenced to Prison for $1.4 Million COVID-19 Relief Money Theft
Ruben Mireles, 48, of Clovis, was sentenced today to one year in prison for stealing $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief money.
Department of Justice
Florida attorney sentenced to federal prison for role in COVID-19 fraud scheme
A Florida attorney has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for participating in a scheme to illegally obtain funding from a federal COVID-19 small business relief program.
Department of Justice
Brockton Man Sentenced for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $1.5 Million in COVID-Relief Funds
BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a scheme to submit false applications to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL) funds through the Small Business Administration (SBA) that were made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Department of Justice
Nevada Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Covid Relief Funds
A Nevada man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to federal prison today for stealing more than $163,000 in Covid relief program funds while on supervised release for two separate state criminal convictions
Department of Justice
Utah Residents Accused of Running a COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme Face Federal Charges
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Three Tooele County residents accused of running a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud ring will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge today following a federal indictment. The indictment, returned by a grand jury on Feb. 28, 2024, includes charges of wire fraud and aiding and abetting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Small Business Administration OIG
SBA’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund Program Award Practices
This SBA OIG pandemic oversight report reviewed the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Restaurant Revitalization Fund application review and approval process. The objective of this review was to determine whether the controls SBA implemented to award RRF program funds in accordance with the Act and other applicable guidance were effective. SBA developed an implementation plan including a risk framework that was intended to reduce the risk of making improper payments and awarding Restaurant Revitalization Funds (RRF) to ineligible recipients. However, the plan did not include all program...
Department of Justice
Las Vegas Resident Sentenced To Prison For COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas woman was sentenced Wednesday by United States District Judge James C. Mahan to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for fraudulently seeking over $1 million in COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
Department of Justice
Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Prison For COVID-19 Relief Loan Scheme Committed While On Supervised Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to two and a half years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for devising a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $550,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Department of Justice
Seattle woman sentenced to intermittent custody for defrauding COVID assistance program
Seattle – A 62-year-old Seattle woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 52 consecutive weekends (208 days) of confinement at FDC-SeaTac beginning on March 22, 2024 as a special condition of a 3-year term of supervision for her scheme to steal nearly half a million dollars in COVID 19 benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Department of Justice
Four South Florida Residents Charged with PPP and Mortgage Fraud
Raisha Kelly, 43, and Widny Thibaud, 44, of Loxahatchee, Florida and Cortira Gray, 33, and Ann Gilchrist, 55 of Miami, Florida have been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud wire fraud in connection with their submission of false and fraudulent PPP loan applications.
Department of Justice
Two Former City of Miami Police Department Employees Plead Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Two former City of Miami Police Department (MPD) employees pled guilty for their involvement in separate COVID-19 relief fraud cases.
Department of Justice
Company that improperly took COVID 19 PPP loan agrees to pay nearly $1 million to settle False Claims Act case
Seattle –Brands LLC, has agreed to pay $989,438 to the United States to resolve allegations the company improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Department of Justice
Man Charged for $10M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme
A California man made his initial appearance in Alexandria, Virginia, today to face charges for a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $10 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act loans.
Small Business Administration OIG
Evaluation of SBA’s Eligibility and Forgiveness Reviews of Paycheck Protection Program Loans Made to Borrowers with Treasury’s Do Not Pay Data Matches
This report is a follow up to SBA OIG Report Number 21-06, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Recipients on the Department of Treasury’s (Treasury) Do Not Pay (DNP) List, which reported SBA did not use Department of Treasury (Treasury) DNP data to screen borrowers for eligibility prior to approving loans originated before August 8, 2020 (PPP round one). In this report, we assess SBA actions to address potentially ineligible loans identified in report 21-06 and its implementation of controls to review DNP data for PPP loans originated after August 8, 2020 (PPP round two).SBA implemented a...
Department of Justice
Two Individuals Convicted for $11M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme
A federal jury in Atlanta convicted a Georgia man and woman yesterday for their roles in an over $11 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud scheme.
Department of Justice
Six sentenced for roles in $20M COVID-19 relief fraud ring
Six Houston-area men have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain more than $20 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Department of Justice
Miami woman sentenced to 70 months in prison after using COVID-19 funds to gamble and launder money
On Feb. 5, a Miami woman was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for money laundering of nearly $2 million in fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans, after previously pleading guilty in October 2023.
Department of Justice
Federal Grand Jury Indicts 19 Individuals for Roles in a Fraudulent Scheme to Obtain COVID-19 Relief Funds
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, announced the indictment of 19 individuals for their participation in a scheme to illegally obtain federal recovery funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Grand Jury charged the defendants with multiple counts of wire fraud and money laundering.
Department of Justice
Las Vegas Resident Sentenced To Prison For COVID-19 Relief Loan Scheme Committed While On Supervised Release
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to two years and six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for devising a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $42,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) loan applications that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Department of Justice
Owner of tax preparation business sentenced to prison for defrauding pandemic relief funding programs
A Georgia woman was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to repay more than half a million dollars she fraudulently obtained from COVID-19 small business relief programs.
Department of Justice
Baltimore County Man and Woman Plead Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $300,000 in COVID-19 CARES Act Loans
Theodore Mouzon, age 42, of Pikesville, Maryland pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, relating to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act loan applications. Co-defendant Yannice Nunez, age 34, of Baltimore County, Maryland, pleaded guilty to the same charge on January 4, 2024. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Former Seattle resident convicted of bank fraud for false COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program filings
Seattle – A 30-year-old New York City man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Seattle of three counts of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud related to his abuse of the COVID-19 Pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Department of Justice
Baltimore Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program Loans
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Reginald Alphonso Hopkins, age 52, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, today to two years in federal prison, followed by one year of home confinement as part of three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy relating to the submission of fraudulent claims for the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused...