NEWARK, N.J. – The United States Attorney’s Office has announced a settlement in a case involving a Bergen County public relations firm accused of fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan.
MWW Group LLC, doing business as MikeWorldWide (MWW), was alleged to have wrongly taken a $2 million PPP loan.
The loan program, part of the CARES Act, was aimed to assist small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. MWW, ineligible due to its status under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, had also sought forgiveness for the loan.
The settlement, totaling $2.29 million plus interest, was the result of a whistleblower lawsuit under the False Claims Act. The whistleblower will receive $229,000 as part of the government’s recovery.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David V. Simunovich represented the government in this matter.