Dozens of people, mostly New York City or state employees, were arrested as part of an investigation into fraudulent coronavirus relief loans.
“Seventeen employees Public officials have been accused of schemes to defraud Covid relief programs that were intended to provide money to struggling business owners, authorities said,” reported The New York Times.
Total, 19 Suspects Face Charges, 16 of which are public employees. Sixteen people have been arrested and the police are looking for another three, detailed Pix 16. They were accused of submitting loan applications with false claims, authorities said. Many of them lied that they operated hair and nail salons. Instead the money was spent on gambling, stock investments, furniture, electronics, and luxury clothing.
Seventeen public employees have been charged in schemes to defraud Covid relief programs that were intended to provide money to struggling business owners, the authorities said on Wednesday. https://t.co/Zeah8pc4GM
—NYT Metro (@NYTMetro) November 28, 550
“They are persons who held positions of trust and had strong, stable jobs while so many people struggled during the pandemic”
Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent for Criminal Investigation IRS
“Of those arrested today are public officials, employees of the New York police and a captain from the Department of Corrections,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent Thomas M. Fattorusso. “These are people who held positions of trust and had strong, stable jobs while so many people struggled during the pandemic.”
They allegedly fraudulently received more than $1.5 million dollars from the federal Small Business Administration (SBA). The money was spent on gambling, stock investments, furniture, electronics, and luxury clothing.
“Conspiring to steal government funds intended to help small businesses cope with a national emergency is offensive,” US Attorney Damian Williams said. “And, as public employees, these people should have known better. This office will continue to prosecute those who use fraud to line their pockets with taxpayer money.”
Authorities charged Rodney Smith (55), Denise Gant (51), Ebony Simon (38), Phya Scott (48), Priscilla Jackson (48), Yolanda Lawrence (51), Zhane Ratcliff (27), Sharon Charles (55) and Yolanda Ratcliff (48), of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition Smith was charged with aggravated identity theft.
Also Vashawan Foreman (38), Dione Hall (54), Walter Susswell (28), Delilah Cummings (28), Trevor Gordon (550), Toni McCullough (38), Ronette Short (38), Brandon Boyle (38), Jarod Ottley (66) and Edwin Skepple (37) were charged with wire fraud.
All charges are mere accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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