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Department of Justice
Spring Valley Man Sentenced To One Year And One Day In Prison For $1.6 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ELIZIER SCHER was sentenced to one year and one day in prison by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern for his scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) of more than $1.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Department of Justice
Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud
Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved by the Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to COVID-19. Those efforts have included complementary actions by the United States Attorney’s Office’s (USAO-MDFL) Criminal, Asset Recovery, Appellate, and Civil Divisions, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Department of Justice
Former Arizona Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Stealing Mainers’ Identities as Part of Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Scheme
James McAuliffe filed false claims for UI benefits using others’ personal identifying information without their knowledge and consent. He was sentenced to.60 months and ordered to pay $203,616 in restitution.
Department of Justice
Mother and Daughter Team Plead Guilty in COVID-19 Related Jailhouse Unemployment Insurance Fraud
Makiah Miles, 30, of Compton, and Apryl Weston, 51, of Santa Maria, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit mail fraud for submitting fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) in the names of inmates.
Department of Justice
Six Individuals Charged in Connection with $7.5 Million Multi-State PPP Fraud Scheme
BOSTON – Six individuals, including three from Massachusetts, have been charged in connection with their alleged involvement in a multi-state scheme to obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds for themselves, and others, through the submission of dozens of fraudulent applications to PPP lenders.
Department of Justice
Developer Convicted of COVID-19 Relief Fraud
On Jan. 12, Eric Dean Sheppard, 55, of Bal Harbour, Florida, was convicted for submitting fraudulent COVID-19 relief loan applications and aggravated identity theft.
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
New York Man Indicted for Stealing COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits
NEWARK N.J. – A New York man was indicted today for conspiring to illegally obtain over $444,000 in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
Department of Justice
Canal Winchester man convicted at trial of drug, gun, fraud crimes
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted Thomas O. Crowell, 35, of Canal Winchester, with narcotics, firearms and fraud crimes.
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...
Department of Justice
Waterbury Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Theft of Pandemic Unemployment Benefits
OLAJUWON HARRINGTON, also known as “OJ Harrington,” 31, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for his theft of pandemic unemployment benefits.
Department of Justice
Former Social Media Influencer Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Scheming to Obtain More Than $1.2 Million in COVID-19 CARES Act Loans
U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Denish Sahadevan, a/k/a “Danny Devan,” age 32, of Potomac, Maryland, today to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, relating to his scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) of more than $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). Judge Boardman also ordered that Sahadevan will forfeit the cash and Bitcoin seized during a search of his residence on...
Department of Justice
North Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Prison For $1.1 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud
LAS VEGAS – A North Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 19 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for submitting at least 56 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of himself and others totaling more than $1.1 million dollars over the course of more than six months.
Department of Justice
Former Iowa Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Pandemic Benefits Fraud Scheme
Department of Justice
Chicago Man Sentenced to Five and a Half Years in Federal Prison for $2.9 Million Covid-Relief Fraud
QUAMDEEN AMUWO defrauded the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Department of Justice
California Man Accused of Defrauding the Federal Government Over $100,000 in Unemployment Benefits During COVID-19
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An indictment was unsealed after a California man was arrested and is scheduled to appear in a Salt Lake City federal courthouse. The eight count indictment charges the defendant for unlawfully collecting unemployment insurance during COVID-19 from California while living and working in Utah. He also allegedly assisted others in committing the same acts for a cut of their unemployment insurance funds administered under the CARES Act.
Department of Justice
Coventry Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Relief Funds
JOHN MATAVA, 59, of Coventry, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to offenses related to his receipt of COVID-19 relief funds.
Michigan Office of the Auditor General
Fraud and Investigation Activities: Unemployment Insurance Agency
This audit report is the fifth and final in a series of audit reports on Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) claims processing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This report identifies that Michigan's UIA did not accurately assess fraud penalties on claims when it determined intentional misrepresentation occurred, and estimates the agency undercalculated penalties on these claims by nearly 50 percent.
Department of Justice
Laplace Resident Charged with Preparing and Submitting Fraudulent Applications for Cares Act Financial Assistance
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MUNIRA SCHOFIELD, age 28, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was charged last week for her role in preparing and filing false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SCHOFIELD was charged in a one-count bill of information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343. SCHOFIELD’s co-conspirators, Lynn Schofield and Bashir Schofield, were charged previously.
Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau
University of Wisconsin System FY 2022-23
We provided unmodified opinions on the University of Wisconsin (UW) System’s financial statements as of and for the years ended June 30, 2023, and June 30, 2022. These financial statements account for the financial position and activity of UW System. We conducted this financial audit by auditing UW System’s financial statements in accordance with applicable government auditing standards, issuing our auditor’s opinions, reviewing internal controls, and issuing our auditor’s report on internal control and compliance. We also reviewed UW System program revenue balances as of June 30, 2023.
Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau
State of Wisconsin FY 2022-23 Financial Statements
The Department of Administration prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), which contains the financial statements of the State of Wisconsin prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) prescribed by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The ACFR includes financial information on state funds, including the State’s General Fund, the Transportation Fund, the University of Wisconsin System, the Unemployment Reserve Fund, and the Wisconsin Retirement System. We provided unmodified opinions on the financial statements and related notes of the...
New York State Comptroller
Department of Health: Use, Collection, and Reporting of Infection Control Data (Follow-Up)
The purpose of this report is to determine the extent of implementation of the five recommendations included in our initial audit report, Use, Collection, and Reporting of Infection Control Data (Report Number: 2020-S-55). The five recommendations included four recommendations to the Department of Health and one to the Governor.
Department of Justice
Former Chief Operating Officer of Suburban Chicago Covid-19 Testing Kit Company Charged With Embezzling at Least $1.8 Million in Company Funds
DENNIS W. HAGGERTY, JR. issued fraudulent payments from his Willowbrook-Ill.-based company’s bank account.
Department of Justice
Woman Convicted of $7M COVID-19 Relief Fraud
A federal jury in the Northern District of Georgia convicted a Georgia attorney and former City of Atlanta police officer yesterday of fraudulently obtaining over $7 million in loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Department of Justice
United Memorial Medical Center to pay $2M plus additional payments for allegedly causing false claims related to excessive cost outlier payments and double billing for Covid-19 tests
Doctor’s Hospital 1997 L.P. dba United Memorial Medical Center LLC (UMMC) has agreed to pay $2 million and to make additional contingent payments to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations
Department of Justice
Brockton Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $1.5 Million in COVID-Relief Funds
BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with 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
Man Charged for $2M COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme
A criminal complaint was unsealed today charging a New Jersey man for his alleged participation in a scheme to obtain, through multiple fraudulent loan applications, more than $2 million in COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and to launder the money through a series of financial transactions.
Department of Justice
Sussex County Man Charged in $2 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
NEWARK N.J. – A Sussex County, New Jersey, man was arrested today on charges related to fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) totaling over $2 million.
Small Business Administration OIG
SBA's Handling of Identity Theft in the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
This report presents the results of our verification inspection of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) corrective actions for the five recommendations from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) evaluation report SBA’s Handling of Identity Theft in the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (Report 21-15).We initiated this verification inspection to determine whether the closed recommendations were fully implemented or if further corrective actions were needed. Accordingly, our objective was to determine the effectiveness of the corrective actions SBA implemented to 1)...
Department of Justice
Manvel resident charged for creating fake businesses to obtain COVID-19 funds
A 38-year-old man has been indicted for wire fraud and money laundering
Department of Justice
Lubbock Woman Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Concealing PPP Loan Fraud
Department of Justice
Houston Woman Sentenced to 4 Months of Probation for Cares Act Fraud and Theft of Government Funds
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TEMIKA SANTEMORE, age 44, a resident of Houston, Texas, was sentenced on December 12, 2023 to four months of probation by U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey after previously pleading guilty to making false statements and theft of government funds related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Department of Justice
One of two Nigerian citizens who defrauded U.S. Pandemic programs of more than $1 million pleads guilty
Tacoma – One of two Nigerian citizens who resided in Canada, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for defrauding pandemic unemployment benefit programs in multiple states, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Department of Justice
Man Sentenced to 37 months for COVID-19 Fraud
DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Chandler Simbeck was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to defraud the United States. He was also ordered to pay $151,000 in restitution.
Department of Justice
Six Individuals, Including Two Maryland State Department of Labor Subcontractors, Facing Federal Indictment for a Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Benefits
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging six individuals for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, relating to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment insurance (“UI”) claims. 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. The indictment was returned on October 24, 2023, and unsealed today upon the arrests of several defendants.
Department of Justice
Waldorf Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $1.5 Million in Losses
U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Dementrous Von Smith, a/k/a “Meecho” and “El Meecho,” age 36, of Waldorf, Maryland, to 53 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in relation to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment insurance claims in Maryland, California and Arizona totaling at least $1.5 million.
Department of Justice
Sacramento Grocery Store Owner and General Manager Indicted for Conspiracy, Immigration Fraud, Obstruction of Justice, and Pandemic Relief Fraud
A federal grand jury returned a 25-count indictment Thursday against Shahrir “Sean” Loloee, 53, of Granite Bay, and Karla Montoya, 42, of Sacramento, charging them both with conspiracy, obstruction of agency proceedings, and possession and use of false immigration documents.
Department of Justice
Metro-Atlanta man pleads guilty to money laundering of COVID-19 unemployment funds
Austin Martin Siampwizi, who laundered money procured from fraudulent unemployment claims filed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has pleaded guilty to a charge of money laundering conspiracy.
Department of Justice
Los Angeles Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for COVID-19 Business Loan Fraud Schemes and for Firearms and Ammo Crime
A downtown Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $150,000 – and attempted to obtain an additional $1.85 million – in COVID-relief loans for several companies he claimed to own and operate, and for illegally possessing firearms – including three AR-style rifles – and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
Department of Justice
Maryland Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $2 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funds
NEWARK, N.J. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for illegally obtaining more than $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Department of Justice
Missouri Woman Sentenced for Fraudulently Applying for $168,000 Pandemic Loan
Maxine Michelle Burns applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan using the name of the owner of a residential treatment facility without authorization.
Department of Justice
Ocala Woman Sentenced To Two Years In Federal Prison For Theft Of COVID Relief Funds
Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Passion Lajodia Jackson (31, Ocala) to two years in federal prison for wire fraud related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As part of the judgment, Jackson was ordered to forfeit $20,132, which represents the proceeds obtained from the offense. Jackson had pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023.
Department of Justice
Lee County Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With $1.35 Million COVID Relief Fraud Scheme
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Evan Graves (40, Alva) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in connection with a $1.35 million COVID relief fraud scheme. Graves faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. As part of his guilty plea, Graves has agreed to forfeit approximately $1,355,600 and six properties in Fort Myers that he had purchased or funded using proceeds of his fraud.
Department of Justice
Eleven Individuals Indicted for Federal Economic-Impact Payment (EIP) Theft Involving over $850,000
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On December 13, 2023, the Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned 11 separate indictments charging 11 individuals with the theft of federal-economic-impact payments from during the COVID-19 pandemic totaling $858,600, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPB), and the Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Hacienda).
Department of Justice
Former Sacramento Resident Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison for Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme
Terence Aubrey Larker, 37, of Las Vegas, previously of Sacramento, was sentenced Tuesday to four years and 10 months in prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in a scheme to defraud the Unemployment Insurance benefit program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Health & Human Services OIG
Medicare Generally Paid Acute-Care Hospitals for Inpatient Stays for Medicare Enrollees Diagnosed With COVID-19 in Accordance With Federal Requirements
Department of Justice
Florida attorney convicted at trial for role in COVID-19 fraud scheme
A Florida attorney has been convicted at trial for participating in a scheme to illegally obtain funding from a federal COVID-19 small business relief program.
Department of Health & Human Services OIG
The Provider Relief Fund Helped Select Nursing Homes Maintain Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic, but Some Found Guidance Difficult to Use
Pandemic Response Accountability Committee
Semiannual Report to Congress: April 1, 2023 - September 30, 2023
Department of Justice
Leader of $6.8 Million Pandemic Fraud Scheme Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Charges
Seattle - Paradise Williams, 29, the leader of a wide-ranging fraud scheme that stole more than $3.3 million from federally funded pandemic assistance programs and attempted to obtain more than $6.8 million, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and money laundering charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.
Department of Justice
Two McLean Companies and CEO Ordered to Pay $1.1 Million for Defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered IT Services Now LLC and O@sis Group LLC, located in McLean, and their CEO, Mustafa Khabir, 51, of Haymarket, to pay $1,052,227 for submitting fraudulent applications to obtain federally guaranteed loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Department of Justice
Biotech CEO Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Securities Fraud Scheme
A California man pleaded guilty yesterday to securities fraud, wire fraud, and obstruction of an official proceeding in connection with his scheme to defraud investors by making false and misleading statements about the purported development of a new, blood-based COVID-19 test, leading to millions of dollars in investor losses.
Department of Justice
St. Louis Man Accused of Nearly $600,000 Pandemic Fraud
An indictment accuses Shahron Vaulx of submitting nine fraudulent applications seeking a total of $649,000 in Paycheck Protection Program loans.
Department of Justice
Bergen County Public Relations Company Settles Allegations It Received Improper Paycheck Protection Program Loan
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, public relations firm entered a settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by taking a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to which the company was not entitled.
Department of Justice
Two charged in $1.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud conspiracy
A Houston area brother and sister have been indicted for submitting fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans
Department of Justice
Gainesville man pleads guilty after fraudulently obtaining Unemployment Insurance benefits in more than 15 states
Ronald House, who applied for unemployment insurance in his name and the names of others in multiple states during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge.
Department of Justice
Former IRS Employee Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in Connection with COVID-19 Fraud
A Tennessee man pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a scheme to defraud the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal stimulus program authorized to provide loans to small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Department of Justice
Riverside County Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3½ Years in Federal Prison for $2.8 Million Unemployment Insurance Scam
A Riverside County woman who participated in a scheme that used stolen identities to fraudulently apply for just over $2.8 million in unemployment insurance (UI) benefits from the California Employment Development Department (EDD) has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison.
Department of Justice
Southfield Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing $300,000 in Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Department of Justice
Jacksonville Business Owner Sentenced To Federal Prison For COVID Relief Fraud
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard today sentenced Kenneth Steven Landers (57, Jacksonville) to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud and engaging in an illegal monetary transaction. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $910,000, the proceeds of his wire fraud scheme, and also ordered him to pay full restitution to his victims. Landers had pleaded guilty on February 14, 2023.
Department of Justice
Two Defendants Plead Guilty in Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain More Than $1.8 Million in COVID-19 CARES Act Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Federal inmates Jason Haddox, age 40, and Jonathan Henry, age 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, and Henry also pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, relating to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment insurance benefits. 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 Labor OIG
COVID-19: Effectiveness of UI ARPA Grants
The American Rescue Plan Act, as amended by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, provided $1 billion in funding to DOL to prevent and detect fraud, promote equitable access, ensure timely payment of benefits, and reduce backlogs. Of these funds, DOL provided approximately $219 million in grants to improve UI claimant outreach and customer service processes, implement strategies to reduce backlog, and improve access for workers in communities that may historically experience barriers. These grants will provide funding for states to improve public awareness and service delivery. This audit will focus on determining if ETA administered these grants in accordance with ARPA and DOL’s objectives for UI access and if recipients are on target to achieve performance outcomes.
Department of Justice
Tulsa, Oklahoma Man Sentenced to 54 Months for $7 Million COVID-19 Testing Fraud
Department of Justice
California Businessman Pleads Guilty to COVID-Relief Fraud
SAN DIEGO – Sean Winston, the CEO of Atlas Capital Management, LLC, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he fraudulently obtained $875,900 from COVID-19 pandemic-era loan programs. According to his plea agreement, Winston held Atlas Capital Management out to the public as an entity that financed business projects, but in fact performed no business and was a shell corporation. Winston admitted that he submitted five loan and loan-forgiveness applications containing false statements to trick lenders into giving his company relief funds.
Department of Justice
Fake car loans and payroll scams send fraudulent College Station pastor to prison
A 61-year-old man has been sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud
Department of Justice
Laplace Resident Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud for Defrauding Cares Act Financial Assistance Program
NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BASHIR SCHOFIELD, age 24, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to a bill of information charging him with wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for his role in preparing and filing false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Department of Justice
Jenks Woman Sentenced and Ordered to Repay More than $1.2 Million in Restitution
U.S. District Judge Terence C. Kern sentenced Lauren Michelle Owen, 40, of Jenks, to 27 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. In January, Owen pleaded guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Judge Kern further ordered Owen to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution.
Department of Justice
Jefferson Parish Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Buyer of Personal Protective Equipment
NEW ORLEANS - CYNTHIA CARONNA, a resident of Jefferson Parish, was sentenced on November 28, 2023, for conspiring with her co-defendant, Frank LaBruzzo, and with a resident of the United Kingdom, to defraud a business that was seeking to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.
Department of Justice
Bridgeport man sentenced for taking nearly $650,000 in COVID Relief funds
James Nolte, 52, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison for wire fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, Nolte fraudulently applied for and received CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $645,717.
Election Assistance Commission OIG
Audit of the Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the Territory of American Samoa
EAC OIG, through the independent public accounting firm of McBride, Lock & Associates, LLC, audited $1.8 million in funds received by the territory of American Samoa under the Help America Vote Act. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether the Territorial Election Office of American Samoa: 1) used funds for authorized purposes in accordance with Section 101 and Section 251 of HAVA and other applicable requirements; 2) properly accounted for and controlled property purchased with HAVA payments; and 3) used the funds in a manner consistent with the informational plans provided to...
Department of Justice
Atlanta man sentenced for stealing identities to file false unemployment claims
Jeremy Graves has been sentenced for theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft for stealing identities to file fraudulent Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) claims during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Department of Justice
Florida Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining $2.4 Million in CARES Act Loans
TRENTON, N.J. – A Florida man admitted fraudulently obtaining over $2.4 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) payments.
Department of Justice
Foreign National Sentenced to 40 Months Custody for $5 Million Unemployment Fraud Scheme
SAN DIEGO – Constantin Bobi Sandu, who admitted that he masterminded 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 40 months in prison.
Department of Justice
Married Couple Sentenced for Laundering $1.4 Million in Proceeds from Jewelry Thefts and Unemployment Fraud During Pandemic
SAN DIEGO – Eduard Ghiocel and his wife, Floarea Ghiocel, were sentenced in federal court today to 36 months and 30 months, respectively, for laundering $1.4 million in proceeds from dozens of grand thefts, robberies and swindles targeting mostly elderly victims in San Diego County.