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April 14, 2023 — A Clinton roofing company owner today admitted to allegations that he used a federal business loan of more than $400,000 intended for economic relief caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to instead buy personal items, including an ATV, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a camper, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

September 21, 2023 — Isaac Lamont Dawson was sentenced to 36 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Act (“PPP”) COVID-19 loans on behalf of two separate businesses he owned. He is the seventh defendant to be sentenced for his role in the scheme, and he has received the longest sentence so far. To date, 16 defendants have pled guilty to this scheme in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Sentencing is pending for the remaining nine.

Find answers to general questions about the COVID-19-related tax credits for required paid leave provided by small and midsize businesses.

October 13, 2022 — Four defendants have been sentenced for conspiracy to defraud the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The EIDL program provided grants and low-interest loans to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, among other disasters. Between April 2020 and June 2020, the defendants submitted more than 400 fraudulent EIDL applications and attempted to get over $7 million in funding.  Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney, announced the sentences today.

November 16, 2023 — A federal jury in Boise, Idaho, convicted a Georgia woman today for fraudulently obtaining and misusing a $338,958 Paycheck Protection Program loan that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

December 15, 2023 — The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Chandler Simbeck was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to defraud the United States. He was also ordered to pay $151,000 in restitution.

Get an overview of the COVID-19-related employee retention tax credits.

December 20, 2022 — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Leo Benevento, of Niagara Falls, New York, who was convicted of wire fraud, was sentenced to serve one year probation by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Benevento also paid $117,300 in restitution.

Feb. 27, 2024 — U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that James Okolo, of West Orange, New Jersey, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

September 20, 2023 — Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Albert Childress, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, announced today that Jacqueline Rascon-Chacon, Bryan Gardea, and Ricardo Landeros were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. All three defendants appeared in federal court today and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.