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US Small Business Administration

$1.7M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced $1.7M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced
$1.7M Fraud Scheme: Hudson Valley Daughter, Mom Who Worked For Police Sentenced A mother-daughter duo has been sentenced to prison for defrauding the government of approximately $1.7 million.  Westchester County residents Alicia Ayers and her mother, Andrea Ayers, both of Mount Vernon, were found guilty of submitting more than 300 fraudulent applications for US Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loans.  Andrea Ayers was a former Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to provide low-interest …
COVID-19: Restaurateur From Region Admits To $163K Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Restaurateur From Region Admits To $163K Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Restaurateur From Region Admits To $163K Pandemic Relief Fraud A former restaurant owner in the region raked in six figures by defrauding a relief program meant to help businesses impacted by COVID-19. Scott Solomon, age 37, of Albany, pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud in Albany federal court on Monday, Dec. 11. According to prosecutors, he admitted to applying for and obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in 2020 for two Saratoga Springs restaurants that he formerly operated. PPP loans were issued by financial institutions in 2020 and 2021 and guaranteed by the US Small Business Administration. Funds were meant to help businesses…
COVID-19 Fraud: Man From Region Gets Prison Time For $125K Loan Scheme COVID-19 Fraud: Man From Region Gets Prison Time For $125K Loan Scheme
Covid-19 Fraud: Man From Region Gets Prison Time For $125K Loan Scheme After bilking the federal government out of more than $100,000 through a fraudulently obtained loan, a 36-year-old man from the region is heading to prison. Christopher Mozone, of Albany, was sentenced to 3 ½ years behind bars in Albany federal court on Thursday, Aug. 31. It followed his guilty plea to wire fraud stemming from a government loan he received that was meant to help businesses struggling due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to prosecutors, Mozone admitted to obtaining a $124,800 Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the US Small Business Administration (SBA). I…
COVID-19 $558K Scam: Former Nightclub Owners In Region Admit Defrauding Relief Programs COVID-19 $558K Scam: Former Nightclub Owners In Region Admit Defrauding Relief Programs
Covid-19 $558K Scam: Former Nightclub Owners In Region Admit Defrauding Relief Programs A husband and wife duo from the region accused of raking in hundreds of thousands of dollars by defrauding COVID-19 relief programs through their former nightclub business has pleaded guilty. Saratoga County residents Deborah Budhraj, age 52, and Adesh Budhraj, age 53, both of Ballston Lake, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and wire fraud charges in federal court in Albany on Wednesday, July 19. The couple formerly owned the Tropics Restaurant & Bar, located in Schenectady on South Brandywine Avenue. According to prosecutors, they agreed to sell the business to another couple in February 2…
COVID-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud COVID-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud
Covid-19: NY Woman Sentenced For $1.69M Relief Fraud A New York woman will spend time in federal prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debra Hackstadt, age 68, of Albany, was sentenced to 16 months behind bars Tuesday, Nov. 8, in federal court in Albany after pleading guilty to wire fraud in May 2022. Earlier Report: COVID-19: Albany Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Northern District, Hackstadt admitted to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans worth more than $1.6 million betwee…
Hudson Valley Man Charged For $1.6 Million Fraud Scheme Hudson Valley Man Charged For $1.6 Million Fraud Scheme
Hudson Valley Man Charged For $1.6 Million Fraud Scheme A man from the region has been charged in connection to a scheme to defraud the US Small Business Administration of more than $1.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds, federal authorities announced. An indictment outlining the charge against Rockland County resident Elizier Scher, age 33, of Spring Valley, were unsealed on Thursday, June 9 at White Plains federal court after his arrest earlier in the morning, Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the FBI, announced. The SB…
Dutchess County Doctor Charged For Seven-Year Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Dutchess County Doctor Charged For Seven-Year Fraud Scheme, Feds Say
Dutchess County Doctor Charged For Seven-Year Fraud Scheme, Feds Say An eye doctor from Westchester who had practices throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County who was previously charged with healthcare fraud has been sentenced for attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic through loan fraud. Westchester resident Ameet Goyal, age 58, of Rye, who operated The Eye Associates Group, with practices in Rye, Mount Kisco, Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, and Greenwich, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for orchestrating a seven-year fraud scheme and for obtaining government loans intended for small businesses during the pandemic. In addition t…
Man Admits In NY To Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Targeting Victims Across US Man Admits In NY To Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Targeting Victims Across US
Man Admits In NY To Laundering Millions From Fraud Schemes Targeting Victims Across US A 36-year-old man has pleaded guilty in New York to a charge related to a money-laundering scheme involving the theft of tens of millions of dollars. Fred Asante, of Virginia, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Feb. 16, to conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to Damian Williams, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. He was arrested on Feb. 17, 2021, Williams reported. “Fred Asante admitted today to laundering money from victims of various fraud schemes, including cruel scams targeting elderly online daters searching for companionship," Williams said. …
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Duo Charged In $7.6 Million Fraud Scheme COVID-19: Hudson Valley Duo Charged In $7.6 Million Fraud Scheme
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Duo Charged In $7.6 Million Fraud Scheme A pair of Westchester residents are among four facing charges for their roles in a multi-million dollar COVID-19 fraud scheme during the height of the pandemic. Mount Vernon residents Quadri Salahuddin, age 25, and Anwar Salahuddin, age 35, Los Angeles resident Christal Ransom, age 44, and Jacob Carter, age 35, of Capitol Heights, Maryland are facing charges for allegedly submitting more than 1,000 fraudulent applications for small business loans in various peoples’ names and accepting kickbacks. US Attorney Damian Williams announced this week that the four allegedly schemed to defraud the …
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Admits To Stealing $4M In Relief Funds COVID-19: Hudson Valley Man Admits To Stealing $4M In Relief Funds
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Man Admits To Stealing $4M In Relief Funds A Hudson Valley man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bank and wire fraud and admitted to obtaining more than $4 million meant for businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ulster County resident Jean Lavanture, age 48, of Saugerties, also known as JR, and "Rudy" Lavanture, is the third person to plead guilty in this case, according to the US Attorney's Office. In pleading guilty, Lavanture admitted to conspiring with another person to obtain $4,309,581 in Paycheck Protection Program loans between June and August 2020, by submitting fraudulent loan applications in the nam…
COVID-19: Hudson Valley Doctor Accused Of Illegally Getting Loans COVID-19: Hudson Valley Doctor Accused Of Illegally Getting Loans
Covid-19: Hudson Valley Doctor Accused Of Illegally Getting Loans An eye doctor from Westchester who had practices throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County who was previously charged with healthcare fraud is facing new charges for allegedly attempting to exploit the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. Ameet Goyal, 57, of Rye, who operates The Eye Associates Group, with practices in Rye, Mount Kisco, Wappingers Falls, and Greenwich, was arrested and charged by federal officials for allegedly fraudulently billing patients last year. Earlier story - Area Doctor Billed Patients $8M For Surgeries He Didn't Do, Feds Say According to U.S. Attorne…
Area Resident Appointed To Business Post In Trump Administration Area Resident Appointed To Business Post In Trump Administration
Area Resident Appointed To Business Post In Trump Administration Kathleen McShane of New Canaan has been appointed to a top business post within the Trump Administration. Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced McShane's appointment as the head of the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO). McMahon resides in Greenwich. McShane founded Ladies Launch Club, a popular area business, in 2006. The company was dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs launch or expand their business. As Assistant Administrator for OWBO, McShane will oversee the agency’s efforts to promote the growth of women-owned busine…