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Paycheck Protection Program

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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…

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by Michael Mashburn
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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…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19 Fraud: Nurse Midwives From Region Doled Out Phony Vaccination Cards, Feds Say COVID-19 Fraud: Nurse Midwives From Region Doled Out Phony Vaccination Cards, Feds Say
Covid-19 Fraud: Nurse Midwives From Region Doled Out Phony Vaccination Cards, Feds Say A pair of nurse midwives from New York is facing federal charges following a nationwide investigation into COVID-19 related fraud. Kelly McDermott, of Albany, and Kathleen Breault, of Cambridge in Washington County, were among five individuals to be charged for their alleged roles in separate schemes that fraudulently distributed more than 2,600 fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District. The investigation also uncovered more than $1.7 million in fraud involving the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan …

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by Michael Mashburn
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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…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: Man From Region Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Man From Region Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Man From Region Sentenced For $144K Pandemic Relief Fraud A Capital District man who admitted to taking advantage of COVID-19 relief programs is heading to federal prison. Rensselaer County resident Hector Sanchez, age 30, of Rensselaer, was sentenced to 70 months - or just under six years - behind bars Monday, July 25, in federal court in Albany. It followed his prior guilty plea in March 2022 to charges of defrauding pandemic-related unemployment insurance and small business loan programs. Federal prosecutors said Sanchez raked in more than $131,000 by submitting false unemployment insurance claims to the New York State Department of Labor usin…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Upstate Woman Pleads Guilty To Pandemic Relief Fraud A woman from the Capital District is facing years in prison after admitting that she took advantage of loan programs meant to help businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Debra Hackstadt, age 67, of Albany, pleaded guilty Thursday, May 19, to fraudulently obtaining 32 government-backed loans, according to the US Attorney’s Office. The loans were issued to Hackstadt herself, various friends and relatives, and several companies that she controlled, prosecutors said. In all, investigators said she received more than $1.6 million between April 2020 and June 2021 through two separat…

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by Michael Mashburn
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COVID-19: NY Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans On Luxury Items COVID-19: NY Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans On Luxury Items
Covid-19: NY Doctor Sentenced For Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans On Luxury Items A New York doctor will spend time behind bars after being sentenced for spending millions of dollars obtained through fraudulently obtained small business loans during the pandemic in an effort to live a luxury lifestyle. Long Island resident Konstantinos Zarkadas, who had a Nassau County practice in Glen Cove, was sentenced in federal court to 51 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars in COVID-19 emergency relief funds. In addition to his prison term, Zarkadas was also ordered to pay approximately $3.5 million in restitution after pleading guilty in November 2021 t…

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by Zak Failla
Sports
COVID-19: Ex-NY Jet Sentenced For Bogus $1.2M Relief Loan COVID-19: Ex-NY Jet Sentenced For Bogus $1.2M Relief Loan
Covid-19: Ex-NY Jet Sentenced For Bogus $1.2M Relief Loan Former NY Jet Josh Bellamy was sentenced to prison time for fraudulently claiming more than $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds that he spent on luxury items and a Hard Rock Hotel stay, federal prosecutors said. The 32-year-old Florida resident was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison last Friday, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, court papers show. The former NFL athlete also must pay restitution. Bellamy obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $1.2 million for his company, Drip Entertainment LLC, under bogus documents and false inf…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
COVID-19: NY Doctor Admits To Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans To Purchase Luxury Items COVID-19: NY Doctor Admits To Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans To Purchase Luxury Items
Covid-19: NY Doctor Admits To Using $3M In Fraudulently Obtained Loans To Purchase Luxury Items A New York doctor has admitted to using more than $3 million in fraudulently obtained small business loans to purchase a yacht and other luxury items, federal authorities announced. Long Island resident Konstantino Zarkadas, a Nassau County-based medical doctor in Glen Cove, pleaded guilty to disaster relief fraud and wire fraud in connection with his receipt of millions of dollars in small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP) on Friday, Nov. 12 in Central Islip. When sentenced, Zarkadas faces up to 30 years in pri…

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by Joe Lombardi
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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…

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by Kathy Reakes
News
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…

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by Zak Failla