CoVID-19 Fraud Cases: A Problem The DOJ Seems Squarely on Top Of

COVID-19 Fraud Cases: DOJ Plenty Busy

(Criminals always looking for a fast buck)

From KOMO radio news in Seattle comes this COVID-19-related scam story. The con was caught, pleaded guilty, and now he is going to prison and rightly so. The story headline:

“Issaquah man sentenced to prison for COVID-19 relief fraud scheme”

SEATTLE – An Issaquah man was sentenced Tuesday (August 10) to two years in prison for carrying out a scheme to obtain COVID-19 disaster relief loans through fraudulent means. 

The man, Austin Hsu, 46, was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and $709,105 in restitution.

According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Hsu submitted nine fraudulent disaster loan applications seeking over $1.1 million through companies owned by him, or that he created for carrying out his fraudulent scheme. 

Hsu also submitted fake federal tax filings as part of the scheme to obtain funds through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). 

Six of Hsu’s nine loan applications were approved, and he fraudulently obtained more than $700,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.

Hsu and others were caught after the U.S. Attorney General established a task force to investigate and prevent pandemic-related fraud. 

Thus far, more than $65 million in fraudulently obtained cash proceeds has been seized as part of the investigation.

Fraud section attorneys also have prosecuted more than 100 defendants in more than 70 criminal cases across the country.

My 2 Cents: Very simple – good job guys … keep it up and nail these slimy criminals.

Thanks for stopping by.