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Nation’s Largest COVID-19 Tax Credit Scheme Uncovered In Nassau County: USDOJ Nation’s Largest COVID-19 Tax Credit Scheme Uncovered In Nassau County: USDOJ
Nation’s Largest Covid-19 Tax Credit Scheme Uncovered In Nassau County: Usdoj Federal authorities announced on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, that seven people have been charged in a $600 million COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme, the largest of its kind in U.S. history, uncovered in Central Islip, New York. Keith Williams, Jamari Lewis, Morais Dicks, Janine Davis, Tiffany Williams, James Hames Jr., and Ewendra Mathurin, all current or former New York residents, are accused of filing over 8,000 fraudulent tax returns between November 2021 and June 2023. The defendants allegedly exploited the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit (SFLC), feder…

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by Jillian Pikora
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$44M COVID Tax Scheme: Long Island Trio Among 7 NYers Nabbed In Largest US Case Ever $44M COVID Tax Scheme: Long Island Trio Among 7 NYers Nabbed In Largest US Case Ever
$44M COVID Tax Scheme: Long Island Trio Among 7 NYers Nabbed In Largest US Case Ever Seven New Yorkers have been charged in a sweeping tax fraud scheme, accused of exploiting pandemic relief programs to steal over $44 million, federal prosecutors announced. The indictment by the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York, unsealed Wednesday, Jan. 22, alleges that the defendants filed over 8,000 fraudulent tax returns, seeking more than $600 million in COVID-19 relief funds through the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and related programs. Investigators determined the group successfully secured $44 million from the federal government. Defendants Long Island …

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by Joe Lombardi
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NYPD Detective From Long Island Helps Dozens Get Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loans, Feds Say NYPD Detective From Long Island Helps Dozens Get Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loans, Feds Say
Nypd Detective From Long Island Helps Dozens Get Fraudulent Covid-19 Relief Loans, Feds Say An NYPD detective from Long Island is among four defendants accused of helping dozens of people obtain fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans. John Bolden, age 46, of Valley Stream, was indicted on wire fraud charges in Brooklyn federal court on Monday, Aug. 12. Prosecutors said Bolden and a second NYPD detective, Anthony Carreira, owned partnership interests in a franchise location for a tax preparation business. Together with clients and co-defendants, the pair helped more than 65 people submit fraudulent applications for loans under the US Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection P…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
$3.2 Million COVID-19 Loan Scheme: Long Island Woman Indicted On Fraud Charges $3.2 Million COVID-19 Loan Scheme: Long Island Woman Indicted On Fraud Charges
Freeport Woman Runs $3.2M COVID Relief Loan Scheme A Long Island woman faces up to 20 years behind bars after she was charged with multiple counts of fraud for submitting fake COVID relief loan applications. Donna Ingram, age 50, faced her indictment on Thursday, May 23, the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) Eastern District of New York announced. The Freeport woman is alleged to have submitted dozens of fake applications for COVID-19 relief loans between May 2020 and May 2021.  Ingram submitted at least 27 Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loans for her own companies and at least 22 other businesses, the USAO claimed. …

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by Sophie Grieser
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COVID-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme COVID-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme
Covid-19: Ex-Court Officer From Valley Stream Sentenced For $770K Loan Fraud Scheme Two former government employees from Long Island will spend more than a year in federal lockup for defrauding loan programs meant to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Arthur Cornwall, age 43, of Babylon, and Sean Williams, age 42, of Valley Stream, were each sentenced to 18 months in prison in Central Islip federal court on Wednesday, March 20, after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Prosecutors said Cornwall, a former signal maintainer with the New York City Transit Authority, and Williams, a former New York State Court officer, received nearly $770,000 in small business loan…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
$9.5 Million Fraud: Long Island Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme $9.5 Million Fraud: Long Island Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme
$9.5 Million Fraud: Long Island Man Admits Using Fake Companies In Scheme A Long Island man who is accused of using fake businesses to defraud over $9 million from federal disaster relief funds has pleaded guilty, authorities announced. On Friday, July 14, the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) of the US Attorney’s Office announced Rami Saab’s guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Saab, a 44-year-old from Glen Cove, was accused of stealing $9.5 million from banks and the Small Business Association (SBA) over the course of one year by creating fake companies so that he could claim COVID-19 relief loans. According to the charges, between M…

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by Sophie Grieser
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Long Island Tax Preparer Got $13M In Fraudulently Obtained Business Loans, Feds Say Long Island Tax Preparer Got $13M In Fraudulently Obtained Business Loans, Feds Say
Long Island Tax Preparer Got $13M In Fraudulently Obtained Business Loans, Feds Say A business owner on Long Island is facing federal charges after allegedly conning his way into millions of dollars in government-backed loans. Sandeep Grover, age 54, of Massapequa, is charged with major fraud against the US and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud, according to an indictment that was unsealed by the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District on Wednesday, May 24. Grover is the owner of Excellent Business Services Inc., a tax preparation business based in Seaford. Prosecutors allege that between April 2020 and June 2021, he submitted over 100 applications for …

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by Michael Mashburn
News
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
News
COVID-19: Capital District Woman Admits To Pandemic Relief Fraud COVID-19: Capital District Woman Admits To Pandemic Relief Fraud
Covid-19: Capital District Woman Admits 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
News
COVID-19: LI Duo Nabbed For $13M Fraud Scheme To Get Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses COVID-19: LI Duo Nabbed For $13M Fraud Scheme To Get Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses
Covid-19: LI Duo Nabbed For $13M Fraud Scheme To Get Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses A pair of men facing charges for an alleged human smuggling operation and a third woman - two of whom are from Long Island - are being accused of allegedly stealing millions of dollars that were earmarked for small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related story - Long Island Man Accused Of Smuggling Vietnamese Nationals To Work At Nail Salons Hicksville residents Ngoc Manh Nguyen, Victoria Dieuy Ho, and Bronx resident Dat Tat Ho have been arrested and charged for allegedly stealing more than $13 million in federal funding that was designated for small business owners from the g…

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by Zak Failla