Prosecutors say a Brooklyn resident fraudulently obtained hundreds of thousands in pandemic relief loans and spent much of it on gambling and personal expenses.
Brooklyn, NY – A Fort Greene man was arraigned Monday on felony charges after prosecutors say he fraudulently obtained more than $386,000 in COVID-19 relief funds through multiple government programs and used the money for personal spending, including gambling at casinos.
Key Points
- A Brooklyn man is accused of stealing about $386,187 in pandemic relief funds.
- Prosecutors say the money was diverted for personal use, including casino gambling.
- The defendant was released without bail following his arraignment Monday.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced that Jermaine Hydol, 43, of Fort Greene, was charged in a criminal complaint with three counts of second-degree grand larceny and one count of first-degree scheme to defraud.
Hydol was arraigned Monday before Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Janice Robinson. The judge released him without bail and ordered him to return to court on June 29.
Prosecutors say loans were obtained through multiple relief programs
According to the investigation, Hydol allegedly secured pandemic relief funding on behalf of three businesses on seven separate occasions between April 1, 2020, and March 30, 2022.
Prosecutors said the funds came from several government programs created during the COVID-19 pandemic to support struggling businesses, including the Empire State Development program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, and the Paycheck Protection Program.
Authorities allege the total amount obtained through the programs reached approximately $386,187.
District Attorney Gonzalez said the programs were intended to help small businesses maintain operations and pay expenses during the pandemic.
Investigators say funds were spent on gambling and personal expenses
Instead of using the funds for business-related purposes, investigators allege Hydol diverted the money for personal use.
According to prosecutors, the defendant spent significant amounts gambling at Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort in Connecticut and Resorts World Casino in Queens.
The investigation was conducted by the New York State Inspector General’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Public Integrity Bureau and Frauds Bureau.