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When the COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S. in early 2020, it spurred an instant economic crisis. Non-essential businesses were forced to close their doors for weeks on end as Americans were urged to stay home and keep their distance from one another.
In response to the crisis, lawmakers passed the CARES Act, which distributed stimulus checks to struggling Americans, boosted unemployment benefits, and provided loans for small businesses that needed a financial lifeline to stay afloat and pay their employees.
Billions of dollars of these taxpayer-funded relief funds were stolen, according to the Justice Department, which has been investigating and prosecuting pandemic relief fraud. As of April last year, it had slapped criminal charges against more than 3,500 defendants for losses of over $2 billion and $1.4 billion had been seized or forfeited.
And the work continues.
Recently it announced 14 people were arrested for allegedly obtaining more than $25 million in COVID-19 relief funds and small business loans with fraudulent applications. A total of 18 defendants were charged, but four are believed to be in Armenia. Fox 11 reported $30 million was stolen.
“This transnational criminal network sought to defraud the government of millions of dollars and almost succeeded,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “HSI is continuing to identify these criminal groups looking to profit from the pandemic and will use all available resources to criminally prosecute or remove them from the country.”
“Today’s enforcement action is intended to send a message to all criminals who take advantage of government programs designed to help those who need them most,” said U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “If you took COVID-19 or SBA money you weren’t entitled to, your door could be the next one we visit.”
A major fraud ring uncovered
Fox 11 reported that Vahe Margaryan, a.k.a. “William McGrayan,” 42, was the brains of the fraud ring that applied for $47 million in federal funds and managed to get approved for $30 million. He and his co-conspirators allegedly made false documents, including fake bank statements and tax returns, for sham companies that supposedly needed the money.
Some of the charges the suspects face are conspiracy to defraud the government, wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering conspiracy. --->READ MORE HERE
The investigation revealed other unemployment insurance claims were filed by Powell with his social security number and birthdate in close to 10 states.
A Detroit-based mailman is facing serious federal charges after being caught in a scheme to defraud agencies of COVID-19 pandemic-era unemployment benefits, CBS News Detroit reports.
Christopher Powell admitted, after being caught by his supervisor, to using addresses from his delivery route in an effort to get unemployment insurance benefits. The federal criminal complaint alleges the scheme took place in Wayne County between July 2020 and April 2024.
Powell’s plan unraveled when a supervisor at the Jefferson Station Post Office noticed Powell was getting mail addressed to homes on his delivery route, where he does not live.
The unidentified supervisor then contacted the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (US-OIG) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to prompt an investigation. The mailman told authorities that he filed an unemployment claim in Michigan in 2020 while being on “COVID Leave” from the mail agency and claimed he hadn’t received benefits from other states.
But that wasn’t the case.
The investigation revealed other unemployment insurance claims were filed by Powell with his social security number and birthdate in Arizona, California, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. He later admitted that a friend applied for unemployment insurance benefits in California on his behalf using his personal information. --->READ MORE HEREFollow links below to relevant/related stories and resources:
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