Reports

BOSTON – A Nigerian man has pleaded guilty in connection with a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.

WILLIAM FREDERICK REED allegedly fraudulently obtained Covid-relief loans and then concealed the proceeds in his bankruptcy case.

This report presents the results of our management advisory bringing the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) attention to concerns regarding forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans subsequently flagged as potentially ineligible using hold code 70 (potential clawback) for which the agency has not completed its review to facilitate recovery of improper payments for ineligible loans. A hold code is an identifier placed on a loan in the agency’s system indicating a potential issue needs to be resolved. SBA uses hold code 70 to flag forgiven PPP loans for which it subsequently suspects...

A Columbia, Mo., man who ran a scheme to defraud insurance companies through staged accidents and who fraudulently applied for COVID-19 relief funds was sentenced in federal court today for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Beverly Ashbaugh, age 51, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to wire fraud involving COVID 19 funding. According to court documents, Ashbaugh filed claims seeking Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) when the pandemic impacted her employment in March 2020.

An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for filing a false claim as part of a scheme to fraudulently receive nearly $1.4 million in COVID-19 relief funds from the government.