Four Michigan Residents Charged with COVID-Relief Fraud
A criminal information was docketed Tuesday charging four Michigan residents in connection with a wire fraud scheme involving over $4.1
Read more
Coronavirus
Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge Involving the Vaccination of Minors Under 12 with the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine
Banchs’ unlawful activity was identified quickly by the Puerto Rico Department of Health and the COVID-19 vaccination program at Farmacia Gabriela, Inc. was subsequently suspended. No serious medical conditions were identified to date as a result of the illegal vaccination program and all funds received for the corresponding Medicaid billings were voluntarily returned to the United States.
Read more
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges for Fraudulently Obtaining Over $1.6 Million in Paycheck Protection Program Loans
Price pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 29 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and 10 years in prison for each count of money
Read more
Knoxville Man Pleads Guilty To Scheme To Defraud The Small Business Administration’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Programs
As part of his fraud scheme, Howell submitted false supporting records and made false statements about the number of individuals the companies employed, the revenue generated, and the wages paid. Howell also made false statements about the corporate entities and the intended use of the loan proceeds.
Read more
Dayton Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security, COVID Relief Funding in His Deceased Father’s Name
In total, from 2015 until the 2020 audit, Devol received nearly $59,000 in Social Security benefits. Throughout those five years, Devol returned questionnaires to the SSA pretending to be his mother and stating the money was being used to care for his father’s needs.
Read more
Long Island Businessmen Plead Guilty to Hoarding and Price-Gouging of Scarce Personal Protective Equipment
On March 18, 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Defense Production Act was invoked making it illegal to acquire medical supplies and devices designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as scarce in order to hoard them or sell them for excessive prices.
Read more
Buffalo Woman Pleads Guilty To COVID Fraud
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for
Read more
Three South Florida Men Guilty of Conspiring to Launder Fraudulently Obtained Covid-19 Relief Money and Proceeds from Business Email Compromise Schemes
In June and July 2020, through false submissions in the names of their shell companies, One, Gousman, and Lemy fraudulently applied for and received close to $2 million in PPP and EIDL funds, which was laundered amongst the co-conspirators.
Read more
Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to $73 Million Medicare Kickback Scheme
Palatnik pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to offer kickbacks and one count of paying a kickback. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 9 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Read more