CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael Kornaker, 52, of North Tonawanda, NY, who was convicted of wire fraud and violation of supervised release, was sentenced to serve 28 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that between June and August 2020, shortly after being released on supervised release from federal prison following a prior fraud conviction, Kornaker fraudulently applied for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The EIDL program provides funds to small businesses or private, non-profit organizations that suffer substantial economic injury as a result of a declared disaster, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Kornaker applied for $60,500 by using the name and personal information of another person and without that person’s permission.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury, and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso.
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