For $60K COVID relief fraud, an Ohio man was sentenced.

Posted by Diane H February 26, 2022
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security CARES Act on the desk.

In connection with COVID-19 relief fraud, a Chesterland man was sentenced to prison and forced to make restitution.

According to a press release from the Ohio Department of Justice, Robert Bearden, 49, entered a guilty plea to charges that he had fraudulently got approximately $60,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the United States Small Business Administration under the CARES Act by submitting false claims.

 

According to court filings, Bearden provided fraudulent information regarding both existing and non-existing businesses, as well as the names of third parties, in exchange for a kickback of a fraction of the monies received in exchange for the information.

According to the press release, Bearden also utilized the personal identification information of persons who were interested in government pandemic aid to file loan applications on their behalf but deposited the monies into his own account.

The FBI and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations looked into this matter.

Diane H
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Master of Science student at the California Institute of Technology, Devanny. Since he began working as a freelance writer more than 4 years ago, he has contributed to various publications, including blogs, magazines, poetry websites, newspapers, and internet debates. Pankaj has been contributing original content to The Current in a freelance capacity throughout the past year. Words from Pankaj: "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier."