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Department of Justice
Texas Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in $800,000 PPP Fraud Scheme
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jacob Liticker, 27, of Houston, Texas was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Department of Justice
Defendant Sentenced To Over Eight Years For Scheme To Fraudulently Obtain More Than $1.8 Million In Covid-19 Cares Act Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, federal inmate Jonathan Henry, age 32, was sentenced to 97 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release and restitution in the amount of $1,894,971 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, relating to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment insurance benefits. Henry’s co-defendant, Kenneth Dodd, was previously sentenced to 42 months imprisonment for his role in the offense, which he will serve consecutively to previous sentences he is currently serving as a result of prior federal felony...
Department of Justice
Chicago Lab Owner Pleads Guilty to $14 Million Covid-19 Fraud Scheme
ZISHAN ALVI caused claims to be submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Covid-19 tests that were not performed as billed.
Department of Justice
Florida Woman Admits COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud
NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida woman today admitted fraudulently obtaining $465,489 in COVID-19 relief funding after submitting fraudulent applications to victim lenders.
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
Eagan Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme
Department of Justice
Jury Convicts Ocala Man For COVID Relief Fraud
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Henry Troy Wade (47, Ocala) guilty of six counts of wire fraud. Wade faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 2025. A federal grand jury had returned an indictment against Wade on November 22, 2022.
Department of Justice
Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Massachusetts Housing Agency
BOSTON – A Florida woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to defrauding a Massachusetts housing agency where she worked in 2022, along with defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with the pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Department of Justice
Lab Owner Pleads Guilty to $14M COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
An Illinois man pleaded guilty today for his role in a COVID-19 testing fraud scheme.
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.
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration
Management Took Actions to Address Erroneous Employee Retention Credit Claims; However, Some Questionable Claims Still Need to Be Addressed
Department of Justice
Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining PPP Loan During Pandemic
Shahied Golden, 29, filed a fraudulent PPP loan application, listing a false gross income for 2020 and falsely stated the loan proceeds were needed to make payroll payments for his alleged business.
Department of Education OIG
Linn-Mar Community School District’s Use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Grant Funds (Iowa)
We performed this review to determine whether Linn-Mar Community School District (Iowa) expended Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant funds for allowable purposes in accordance with applicable requirements. We determined that all 20 (100 percent) ESSER expenditures that we reviewed for Linn-Mar were allowable. However, we found that Linn-Mar did not comply with key competitive procurement process or documentation requirements when procuring the goods or services associated with 6 (40 percent) of the 15 non-personnel expenditures, totaling $228,510 (49 percent) of the...
Department of Justice
St. Louis Postal Worker Accused of Stealing Checks from Mail, Pandemic Fraud
An indictment accuses Anthony Virdure II of stealing checks with a face value of more than $1.5 million from the mail.
Department of Justice
St. Louis Nonprofit Executive Accused of More Than $2 Million Dollar Student Meal Fraud
Cymone McClellan was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on four felony counts of wire fraud.
Department of Justice
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison For $4.8 Million Cares Act Loan Fraud Scheme
TRENTON, N.J. – A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain over $4.8 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for himself and others.
Department of Justice
Smithtown Man Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Covid-19 Fraud
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Carmine G. Agnello pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with his receipt of approximately $1.1 million in small business loans under the United States Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program .
Department of Justice
New Jersey Business Owner Admits Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Wire Fraud
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey business owner today admitted his role in a fraud scheme involving COVID funds, fraudulent tax filings and a fraudulent loan application.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation OIG
Projected Benefit Payments in Selected Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Applications
Department of Education OIG
Lower Kuskokwim School District’s Use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (Alaska)
We performed this review to determine whether the Lower Kuskokwim School District expended Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant funds for allowable purposes in accordance with applicable requirements. We determined that all the ESSER expenditures we reviewed for Lower Kuskokwim were allowable and in accordance with applicable requirements. We also found that Lower Kuskokwim complied with key Federal procurement requirements, including those covering the procurement methods to be followed and contract cost, price, and provisions, when procuring the goods or services...
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee
A Review of Pandemic Relief Funding and How It Was Used In Six U.S. Communities: Sheridan County, Nebraska
To learn how communities across the nation responded to the pandemic, we initiated a multi-part review of six communities—two cities, two rural counties, and two Tribal reservations. This report is the third community-specific report and focuses on our work in Sheridan County, Nebraska, where we previously identified that recipients, including city government, small businesses, and individuals, received almost $61 million from 31 pandemic relief programs and subprograms. This report provides a closer look at six pandemic programs and subprograms provided to Sheridan County by six federal...
Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery
Review of Yellow’s Compliance with Section 12.05 of its Loan and Guarantee Agreement
Department of Justice
Former Professional Basketball Player Admits Pandemic Loan Fraud
Lorenzo Gordon fraudulently applied for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.
Department of Justice
Former SBA Employee Convicted Of Conspiracy, Bribery, And Wire Fraud
Orlando, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Angela Chew (60, Leesburg) guilty of conspiracy to bribe a public official and commit wire fraud, three counts of bribery of a public official, and six counts of wire fraud. Chew faces up to 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count, up to 15 years in federal prison on each of the bribery counts, and up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the wire fraud counts. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 18, 2024.
Department of Justice
Texas Businessman Accused of $1.9 Million COVID Test Kit Fraud
Rashid Naqvi has been accused of fraudulently obtaining $1.9 million from Medicare by billing for numerous COVID-19 test kits that he had sent to patients who had never requested them. Many of the patients were dead, the indictment says.
Department of Education OIG
Southeast Polk Community School District’s Use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Grant Funds (Iowa)
We performed this review to determine whether the Southeast Polk Community School District t expended Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant funds for allowable purposes in accordance with applicable requirements. We determined that all 20 expenditures (5 personnel and 15 non-personnel) that we reviewed were allowable. Allowable activities generally include those authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and...
Department of Education OIG
Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District’s Use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (Alaska)
We performed this review to determine whether the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District expended Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) grant funds for allowable purposes in accordance with applicable requirements. We determined that all the ESSER expenditures we reviewed for Matanuska-Susitna were allowable and in accordance with applicable requirements. We also found that Matanuska-Susitna complied with key Federal procurement requirements, including those covering the procurement methods to be followed and contract cost, price, and provisions, when procuring the goods...
Department of Justice
Valley National Bank Resolves Civil Liability Relating To Self-Disclosure Of Its Role In The Impermissible Use Of PPP Loan Proceeds By Bank Customer
Tampa, FL – Valley National Bank (VNB), a national bank and member of the Federal Reserve System, has agreed to pay $216,784.50 to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act for its self-disclosed role in the administration of two loans to a bank customer made under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act (Economic Aid Act).
Department of Education OIG
Des Moines Independent Community School District’s Use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Grant Funds
We performed this review to determine whether the Des Moines Independent Community School District expended ESSER grant funds for allowable purposes in accordance with applicable requirements. We determined that of the 20 expenditures that we reviewed, 17 were allowable and in accordance with applicable requirements. Two expenditures totaling $164,580 were unallowable because they were for advertising and public relations costs prohibited under the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 Code of Federal Regulations part 200), and a...
Department of Education OIG
Florida Department of Education’s Administration and Oversight of Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools Grant Funds
Congress provided $5.5 billion for the Emergency Assistance to Nonpublic Schools (EANS) program. The purpose of the EANS programs, authorized under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and American Rescue Plan (ARP), is to provide services or assistance to eligible nonpublic schools to address educational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 emergency. We conducted an audit to determine whether the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) designed and implemented (1) application processes that adequately assessed nonpublic schools’ eligibility for EANS-funded...
Department of Justice
West Park Man Pleads Guilty To Filing Thousands Of Fraudulent COVID-19 Testing Reimbursement Claims In The Names Of Homeless, Incarcerated And Deceased Individuals, Agrees To Forfeit Over $5.6 Million And Properties
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Willie F. Murray, Jr. (55, West Park) today pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Murray faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and a consecutive two years’ imprisonment for the aggravated identity theft offense. Murray has also agreed to forfeit $5,671,611.74 in U.S. currency, $1,578,925.56 from a bank account, and seven real properties located in Punta Gorda, Fort Lauderdale, Belle Glade, Hollywood, and South Bay, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense.
Department of Justice
Three Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud in $250 Million Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme
Department of Justice
Businessman Pleads Guilty to Theft of Pandemic Relief Funds
BOSTON – A Massachusetts businessman pleaded guilty yesterday to misappropriating COVID-19 relief funds for personal use.
Department of Education OIG
Anchorage School District’s Use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Grant Funds (Alaska)
We performed this review to determine whether Anchorage School District (Anchorage) expended ESSER grant funds for allowable purposes in accordance with applicable requirements. We determined that all the ESSER expenditures we reviewed for Anchorage were allowable and in accordance with applicable requirements. We also found that Anchorage complied with key Federal procurement requirements, including those covering the procurement methods to be followed and contract cost, price, and provisions, when procuring the goods or services associated with each ESSER expenditure we reviewed. Because we...
Department of Justice
Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-Relief Funds
BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fraud and false statements charges in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Department of Justice
Tracy Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Fraudulent Scheme to Steal California Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Kaymeisha Keyes, 33, of Tracy, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to nine years in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme to defraud the unemployment insurance benefit program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Baltimore woman pleads guilty to COVID fraud
U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nina M. Williams, 56, of Baltimore, Maryland, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge William, M. Skretny to wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Department of Justice
Travel Tourism Company Pays More Than $2 Million To Resolve Civil Claims Regarding Funds Obtained Under The Paycheck Protection Program
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Miles Partnership, LLC (Miles), a travel and tourism consulting company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, has agreed to a civil settlement of $2,281,950 to resolve allegations that Miles improperly obtained and received forgiveness of a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Department of Justice
Travel Tourism Company Pays $2.2 Million To Resolve Civil Claims Regarding Funds Obtained Under The Paycheck Protection Program
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Miles Partnership, LLC (Miles), a travel and tourism consulting company headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, has agreed to a civil settlement of $2,281,950 to resolve allegations that Miles improperly obtained and received forgiveness of a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Department of Justice
Westwego Woman Indicted for Unemployment Insurance Fraud and Covid Fraud
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that REHA JANEE ARVIE, (“ARVIE”), age 33, of Westwego, LA, was indicted on September 6, 2024 for Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud (Count1), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349; Mail Fraud (Counts 2 and 3), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341; and, Making False Statements (Count 4), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).
Department of Justice
Attorney Pleads Guilty to Obtaining Fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Money Laundering
Sanjay Patel, an attorney who formerly operated a Georgia-based real estate law firm, has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining nearly $300,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to using his attorney escrow account to launder more than $250,000 from unrelated investor fraud schemes.
Department of Justice
Woman Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Pandemic Loan Fraud
Juashayla Walls sought loans during the COVID-19 pandemic for a fake company called the “Barbie Factory.”
Department of Housing and Urban Development OIG
HUD Grantees Need to Enhance Monitoring of ESG CARES Act Subrecipients
We audited HUD and its grantees’ monitoring of subrecipients and contractors in HUD’s Emergency Solutions Grants Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (ESG-CV) program to assess subrecipient monitoring in the program. ESG and ESG-CV grantees often rely on subrecipients and contractors to carry out ESG-CV-funded activities on behalf of the grantees, and are required to monitor subrecipients to ensure that the purpose of the grant funds awarded is achieved and funds are spent on only eligible applicants and activities. HUD is responsible for ensuring that grantees are performing...
Department of Justice
Lakeland Man Indicted For COVID Fraud
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Jeanty Cherilus (54, Lakeland) with five counts of wire fraud. Cherilus faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Cherilus that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $370,000, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct.
Department of Justice
Massachusetts Business Owner Indicted for Over $18 Million Paycheck Protection Program Fraud
BOSTON – A Carlisle man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of multiple companies he owns and controls.
Department of Justice
Second Canadian resident pleads guilty to massive COVID-19 benefit fraud scheme
Tacoma – The second of two Nigerian men residing in Canada pleaded guilty Thursday September 12, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his fraud scheme that stole more than $1.3 million in federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Department of Justice
Houma Man Sentenced for Making False Statements to Federal Agents
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DONDRE MORGAN, (“MORGAN”), age 32, of Houma, LA, was sentenced on September 10, 2024 for Making False Statements to Federal Agents, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).
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
Rapids Theatre owner and associate named in superseding indictment for defrauding the Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Paycheck Protection Programs out of more than $750,000
U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging John L. Hutchins, 70, of Lewiston, NY, and Roberto Soliman, 40, of Niagara Falls, NY, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, bank fraud, and wire fraud. In addition, defendant Hutchins is charged with making a false statement and defendant Soliman is charged with engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
Department of Justice
Los Angeles Businessman and His Companies Settle Claims Related to Improper COVID-19 Business-Relief Loans
Yosef Y. Manela, a Los Angeles-based businessman who owns and operates an accounting firm, law firm and consulting company, has paid $802,341 to the United States to resolve allegations that he and his three companies violated the False Claims Act in connection with six loans the businesses received under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Justice Department announced today.
Department of Justice
Two Accused of $80,000 in Pandemic Loan Fraud
Kahroun Armstrong and Dortatius Hill were indicted on two counts bank fraud, two counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement.
Department of Justice
Six Defendants Arrested on Indictments Alleging They Used Stolen Identities to Fraudulently Obtain Lines of Credit and Jobless Benefits
Law enforcement officials today arrested six Orange County residents charged in three indictments alleging, among other crimes, they stole identities to defraud California’s unemployment insurance (UI) system and to fraudulently apply for lines of credit from a lender, using the identity theft victims’ homes as collateral.
Department of Justice
Jacksonville Woman Pleads Guilty To Credit Scheme And COVID Relief Fraud Involving The Paycheck Protection Program
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Crystal Denean Harvell (37, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving a line of credit scheme and one count of wire fraud involving COVID relief fraud through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Harvell faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count and payment of restitution to the victims she defrauded and to the United States government. Harvell has also agreed to forfeit $20,415, which is traceable to proceeds of the wire fraud offense involving COVID...
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
Cape Coral Man Sentenced To Over 3 Years In Federal Prison For COVID Relief Fraud
Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell today sentenced Diop McKenzie (30, Cape Coral) to 45 months in federal prison for bank fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the court ordered McKenzie to pay restitution to the Small Business Administration (SBA) and entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $117,832, the proceeds of the bank and wire fraud.
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
Former Cincinnati woman convicted of wire fraud related to pandemic relief funds
CINCINNATI – A federal jury has found a former Cincinnati woman guilty on all counts as charged of crimes related to pandemic relief fraud.
Department of Justice
Palm Springs Man Pleads Guilty to $2.1 Million Tax Refund Scheme and to Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $1 Million in COVID-19 Loans
A Riverside County man pleaded guilty today to scheming to defraud the IRS out of more than $2.1 million via the issuing of fake W-2 forms and to fraudulently obtaining nearly $1 million of COVID-19 economic-relief loans.
Department of Justice
Boston Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-Relief Funds
BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related relief funds from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Department of Justice
Former Chief Operating Officer of Covid-19 Testing Kit Company Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Embezzling $1.85 Million
DENNIS W. HAGGERTY, JR. issued payments from the company’s bank account for services and goods that were never provided.
Department of Justice
Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft
BOSTON – A Brooklyn, N.Y. man pleaded guilty today in connection with a scheme to steal over $3 million in COVID relief tax credits using the stolen identity of a corporate executive in New Jersey.
Department of Justice
Three Individuals Indicted in Mortgage, COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud Schemes
CAMDEN, N.J. – Three New Jersey residents were indicted for their role in a multimillion-dollar mortgage fraud scheme and two of the three were indicted for fraudulently obtaining approximately $3 million of federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Department of Justice
New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Cares Act Fraud, False Statements to the IRS, and Theft of Government Funds
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TAMIKA CHAPPELL (“CHAPPELL”), age 40, of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 29, 2024 to five (5) years of probation by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier after previously pleading guilty to making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), making false statements to the IRS, and theft of government funds.
Department of Justice
Missouri Man Found Guilty of Pandemic Fraud, Witness Tampering, Clean Air Act Violations
Christopher Carroll fraudulently obtained nearly $3 million in pandemic relief loans, evidence and testimony at trial showed.
Department of Justice
Madison Man Sentenced to 28 Months for Stealing Paycheck Protection Program Funds
Department of Justice
Former Baltimore City Department Of Finance Employee Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud Conspiracy And Bribery Scheme
Baltimore, Maryland – Joseph Gillespie, age 35, of Baltimore City, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud a financial institution and the United States Small Business Administration in order to obtain fraudulent loans under the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program for various purported businesses. The Defendant also admitted to engaging in a bribery scheme for over eight years, whereby, in exchange for bribes from various property owners in Baltimore City (the “City”), the Defendant would use his official...
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
Culver City Restauranteur Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $4 Million in COVID-19 Business-Relief Loans
A Culver City man and restauranteur who owns a hospitality company that has developed restaurants and hotels in California, Tennessee, and Kentucky pleaded guilty today to fraudulently obtaining more than $4 million COVID-19 economic-relief loans.
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
Mastermind of $5 Million Unemployment Fraud Scheme and Accomplices Sentenced to Prison
SAN DIEGO – David Constantin, mastermind of a scheme to steal more than $5 million in California unemployment benefits intended to help workers affected by the pandemic, was sentenced in federal court today to five years in prison and was ordered to pay $ $5,178,276 in restitution to the state.
Department of Justice
Broward Deputy Sheriff and SWAT Team Member Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Today, U.S. Senior District Judge sentenced Alexandra Acosta, a Broward deputy sheriff and SWAT team member, to 4 months’ imprisonment after a jury convicted her of one count of conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), two counts of false statements to the SBA, and one count of wire fraud, all in relation to her COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.
Department of Justice
Ocala Woman Arrested For COVID Fraud
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Lisa Yvette Starkes (52, Ocala) on an indictment charging her with two counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Starkes faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count and a forfeiture order for $41,452—an amount representing the unlawful proceeds of the offense. The indictment was returned on August 6, 2024.
Department of Justice
California Lobbying Firm Agrees to Settle Fraud Allegations Involving Paycheck Protection Program Loan
California Advisors LLC, Delaney Hunter, and William Gonzalez have agreed to pay the United States a combined $580,000 in damages and penalties to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act by receiving a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).