Reports

Following a two-week trial, a jury found Jia Bei Zhu, 64, a Chinese national, guilty of fraudulently selling more than a million COVID tests for nearly $4 million through his Fresno-based company Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI), to customers across the United States and lying to the FDA about his identity and role with UMI.

Two brothers, and a public official they befriended, have been sentenced to prison for their roles to carry out schemes to obtain millions of dollars from victims. A federal jury previously convicted the three men for their roles in a multi-layered, elaborate bribery and fraud conspiracy that spanned multiple states and countries.

GERARD C. MOORER allegedly engaged in fraud related to the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program.

NEW ORLEANS - On April 21, 2026, AMANDA WILKERSON (“WILKERSON”), age 57, a resident of Marrero, Louisiana, pled guilty to a Bill of Information charging her with one count of failure to pay over payroll/trust fund taxes, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7202, one count of failure to file her individual income tax return, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7203, and one count of providing false statements on a government Cares Act Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan application, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

NEW ORLEANS – CHELSEY POWELL (“POWELL”), age 34, of Tangipahoa Parish, LA, pleaded guilty on April 29, 2026 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

BRANDI WRIGHT allegedly engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

BOSTON – A Brockton woman, who has been employed full-time as a Medical Technician with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs since August 2021, has been charged in federal court in Boston with wire fraud.

A Santa Clarita Valley tax preparer pleaded guilty today to fraudulently including false information on federal income tax returns to get substantial refunds for his clients – and cause large tax losses to the U.S. Treasury – and COVID-19 business-relief loan applications to obtain money he used for unauthorized purposes.

Greenbelt, Maryland – A former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) employee is facing indictment for his role in a scheme to evade Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in connection with COVID-19 research grants. David M. Morens, 78, of Chester, Maryland, is charged with conspiracy against the United States; destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations; concealment, removal, or mutilation of records; and aiding and abetting.