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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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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.
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).
32 Individuals Indicted for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Fraud
SAN JUAN, P.R. – On August 22, 2024, a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned 32 separate indictments charging 32 individuals with engaging in fraud to obtain Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits totaling $981,071, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG) are in charge of the investigations with the assistance of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Puerto Rico Department of...
Lake Forest Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Defrauding Buyers of Medical-Grade Gloves During COVID-19 Pandemic
An Orange County man was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for defrauding companies who in mid-2020 paid more than $3 million for COVID-related medical protective equipment that was never delivered.
Bergen County Man Charged in COVID-19 Fraud Scheme
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man was indicted on charges that he fraudulently obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds.
SBA employee indicted in COVID-19 fraud scheme
A Carrollton man has been charged with federal violations related to a COVID-19 fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Couple Admits COVID-19 Loan Fraud Scheme
TRENTON N.J. – A New Jersey couple admitted fraudulently obtaining approximately $790,000 in federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) payments.
Three more plead guilty in connection with conspiracy to use stolen credit card information to buy firearms online and pick them up in ‘straw purchases’
CINCINNATI – Three more people have pleaded guilty in connection with a conspiracy to buy firearms online using stolen credit card information, and having the weapons shipped to Cincinnati-area federal firearms licensees (FFLs) for pickup.
Pair Accused of Kickback Scheme Involving Lab Testing
Willie Cleveland and Timothy Peoples were indicted August 7.
Nigerian Man Arrested in Alleged $10 Million Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Fraud Scheme
BOSTON – A Nigerian man was arrested on Aug. 13, 2024 upon arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City on charges that he, and others, conspired to fraudulently obtain at least $10 million in COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
Southern Oregon Restaurant Sentenced in Federal Court for Stealing Covid Relief Program Funds
A southern Oregon restaurant was sentenced in federal court today for stealing more than $759,000 in federal funds intended to help small businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic
Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Georgia
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office (GSoS), totaling $46.3 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest earned on the reissued Section 101, reissued Section 251, Election Security, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.
Georgia Trucker Sentenced for PPP Fraud
Roderick Billingslea has been sentenced to federal prison for obtaining a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and operating illegal trucking businesses.
Conspiracy and Fraud Charges Added Against Operator of Central California Bio-Lab and His Partner in Connection with Sale of Millions of Dollars in COVID-19 Test Kits
Jia Bei Zhu, 62, and Zhaoyan Wang, 38, both citizens of China, who operated the biolabs Universal Meditech Inc. (UMI) and Prestige Biotech Inc. (PBI) in Fresno and Reedley face conspiracy and wire fraud charges in a superseding indictment.
Utah Restaurant Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID Fraud
Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah restaurant owner who obtained over $1.88 million by defrauding the COVID-19 Relief program was sentenced today to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment.
Calabasas Law Firm and Senior Managers Settle False Claims Act Allegations Regarding Misuse of COVID-19 Business Loan Funds
The Bloom Firm, a Calabasas-based law firm, and Lisa Bloom and Braden Pollock, members of the firm’s senior management, have agreed to pay a total of $274,000 to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by knowingly providing false information in support of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application submitted by The Bloom Firm.
Large-Scale Counterfeit Pill Manufacturer Indicted on Drug Offenses and Pandemic Loan Fraud
BOSTON – A Cambridge man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in connection with an ongoing investigation into counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. It is alleged that the defendant is responsible for the manufacturing over 200 kilograms of counterfeit pills.
Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of Michigan
The independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company CPAs and Management Consultants, PLLC, under contract with the Office of Inspector General, audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the Michigan Department of State (MDOS), totaling $49.88 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest and program income earned on the reissued Section 101, reissued Section 251, Election Security, and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.
Atlantic County Health System Settles Matter Alleging it Received Improper Paycheck Protection Program Loan
CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County health system entered into a settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the non-profit company violated the False Claims Act by taking a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to which the company was not entitled.
Georgia Man Indicted for Pandemic-Related Fraud and Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud
Mycheal Arnell Brady, also known as “Michael Brady,” has been indicted on federal charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, for stealing COVID-19 relief funds and submitting fraudulent federal tax refunds using the stolen identities of multiple individuals. Brady has also been charged with possession of unauthorized access devices that contained dozens of the identity theft victims’ personal information, including their Social Security numbers.
Federal Student Aid’s Performance Measures and Indicators for Returning Borrowers to Repayment
The inspection sought to determine whether the Federal Student Aid office (FSA) established performance measures and indicators for returning borrowers to repayment. We found that FSA needed to establish effective performance measures and indicators to evaluate its performance for returning borrowers to repayment. Although FSA and the Office of the Undersecretary established operational and strategic objectives and operational goals for returning borrowers to repayment, they were not written in specific and measurable terms. In addition, although FSA identified several data metrics as...
Two New York City Police Department Detectives and Two Others Charged in Paycheck Protection Program Fraud Scheme
“As alleged, the defendants, including members of law enforcement responsible for upholding the law, defrauded the United States government out of relief funds meant for businesses struggling to survive the pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “These arrests are a powerful reminder of this Office’s resolve to prosecute anyone who violated the public trust and took advantage of the COVID crisis by stealing from relief programs.”
Audit of the Administration of Help America Vote Act Grants Awarded to the State of New Jersey
The independent public accounting firm of Brown & Company CPAs and Management Consultants, PLLC, under contract with the Office of Inspector General, audited Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grants administered by the New Jersey Department of State, totaling $39.52 million. This included federal funds, state matching funds, and interest earned on the Election Security and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act grants.
Burlington Community School District’s Use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Grant Funds (Iowa)
We performed this review to determine whether the Burlington Community School District (Burlington) 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 Burlington were allowable and in accordance with applicable requirements. We also found that Burlington 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...
Brentwood-Based Dental Offices Company and Former Owners Pay $6.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Related to COVID Relief
West Coast Dental Administrative Services LLC (formerly West Coast Dental Services Inc.), a Brentwood-based company which operates a network of dental offices in Southern California, and its founders and former owners, Drs. Soleyman Cohen-Sedgh, Farid Pakravan and Farhad Manavi, have paid $6.3 million to resolve allegations that they knowingly violated the False Claims Act in connection with seven improper loans that West Coast Dental Services Inc. (West Coast Dental) and affiliated dental offices received under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
St. Louis Man Admits Committing Pandemic Loan Fraud
Robert Baines admitted fraudulently obtaining $41,484 in loans.
Baltimore County Man Sentenced For Bank Fraud Scheme Involving Over $1.8 Million In Fraudulent Bank Transactions
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin today sentenced Damilola Ojo, age 31, of Windsor Mill, Maryland, to 48 months in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for charges related to a bank fraud scheme totaling more than $1.8 million. As part of his plea, Ojo also admitted to obtaining a fraudulent $475,000 COVID-19 CARES Act loan. Judge Rubin ordered Ojo to forfeit $20,000 and to pay restitution of $546,000.