Buffalo Man Pleads Guilty To Multiple Drug, Gun and COVID-19 Fraud Crimes

CONTACT: Barbara BurnsPHONE: (716) 843-5817FAX #: (716) 551-3051 BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Joseph Bella, 49, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being…

Corrections Officer and Inmate Charged in Bribery Scheme; Same Inmate Charged in Unrelated Covid-Fraud Scheme

Assistant U. S. Attorney Orlando B. Gutierrez (619) 546-6958 NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – June 27, 2022 SAN DIEGO – Benito Jamar Hugie, a corrections officer at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, was…

Former Owner of Illicit Massage Parlor Sentenced for Submitting Fraudulent COVID-Relief Loan Applications

BOSTON – The former owner of a massage parlor pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with filing fraudulent applications for pandemic-related loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in…

New York Man Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

BOSTON – A New York Man was sentenced today on charges arising from a scheme to fraudulently obtain business loans and unemployment pandemic relief funds made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,…

Former Owner of Illicit Massage Parlor Sentenced for Nearly $30,000 COVID-19 Relief Fraud

BOSTON – The former owner of a massage parlor was sentenced yesterday in connection with filing for and obtaining fraudulent pandemic-related loans for her illicit business where workers engaged in commercial sex…

Kiln Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for COVID-Related Wire Fraud

Gulfport, Miss. – A Kiln man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Covid-related wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge David…

Nursing Director Pleads Guilty to Lying to Federal Agents Regarding Production of Fraudulent COVID-19 Vaccine Cards

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA —Tammy Hutson McDonald, 53, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents about the production of fraudulent COVID-19 Vaccination Record Cards. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that…

Georgia man charged with fraud in seeking millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief funding

SAVANNAH, GA: A Georgia man has been indicted on multiple charges alleging his involvement as the leader in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain federal COVID-19 pandemic relief funding. Bernard Okojie, 40, of…

Tampa Bay Area Woman Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Commit Wire Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft Related To COVID Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Tampa, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Melinda Sue Hernandez (33, Ruskin) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Hernandez faces a maximum…

Stoughton Man Pleads Guilty to $400,000 COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme

BOSTON – A Stoughton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with filing a fraudulent loan application in order to obtain over $400,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)…

Owners Of Grand Rapids Trucking Company Plead Guilty To Bank Fraud Conspiracy, Pay $1,000,000 In Related Civil Case, In Connection With Covid-19 Relief Fraud

DMR Transportation Falsified Financial Records To Receive A Second-Draw Loan Under The Paycheck Protection Program GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — Semsi Salja and Anes Suhonjic, the owners of…

Kissimmee Man Surrenders On Federal COVID Relief Fraud Charges

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Levelle Joseph Harris (36, Kissimmee) has surrendered pursuant to an indictment charging him with 14 counts of wire fraud. Each count…

Leicester Man Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Prison for Unemployment and Loan Fraud Schemes Related to COVID-19 Pandemic

BOSTON – A Leicester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Worcester for his involvement in fraud schemes affecting the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Loan and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance…

Vancouver Real Estate Developer Faces Federal Charges for Fraudulently Obtaining Covid-Relief Program Funds, Laundering Proceeds

PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Portland has returned an indictment charging a real estate developer residing in Vancouver, Washington, and Lake Havasu, Arizona, with fraudulently obtaining Covid-relief program funds and laundering…

Owner of Tech Services Company Sentenced to More than Three Years in Prison for $13 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme

BOSTON – A Winchester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with filing fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $13 million in forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small…

Registered Nurse Pleads Guilty in Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card Fraud

DETROIT – A registered nurse from the Veteran’s Hospital in Detroit, pleaded guilty yesterday to charges related to Covid-19 Vaccination Record Cards fraud, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Joining in…

Eight Philadelphia Public Workers Charged for Filing False Unemployment Claims During COVID

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Eight Philadelphia public employees conspired to steal over $300,000 in unemployment benefits according to Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Shapiro announced the charges against eight employees of the City of…

St. Paul Man Sentenced to Prison for $841,000 COVID-Relief Scheme to Defraud the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program

ST. PAUL, Minn. – A St. Paul man was sentenced to 81 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft in connection…

Coral Springs Police Officer Charged with COVID Relief Fraud, Using Loan Money to Service and Repair His Vintage Car

Miami, Florida – A South Florida federal grand jury has charged a Coral Springs police officer with fraudulently applying to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for a COVID-19 relief advance grant…

West Haven City Employee Admits Role in Scheme to Steal Covid Relief Funds

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN BERNARDO, 66, of West Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to…

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