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The Affirmative Civil Enforcement (ACE) Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut recovered more than $9.2 million since June 2026 through settlement agreements resolving allegations that various companies violated the False Claims Act by providing false information to obtain millions of dollars in pandemic-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for which they were not eligible.

Greenbelt, Maryland – A former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases employee pled guilty in federal court, today, to a conspiracy charge stemming from a scheme to evade Freedom of Information Act requests and the Federal Records Act in connection with communications about coronavirus research grants. David M. Morens, 78, of Chester, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit offenses and to defraud the United States.

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.

The indictment accuses the conspirators of submitting at least 40 fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans that yielded at least $8.3 million.